Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, released the following statement today after the Senate blocked adoption of two bipartisan proposals that would have provided relief to the 800,000 Dreamers who are desperately awaiting action before the March 5 deadline:

“With March 6 fast approaching, there are only 19 days left until Trump’s decision to rescind DACA takes effect. Trump is failing not only the Dreamers and their families but also the hospitals, service industries, construction sites, small businesses, colleges and universities that are enhanced by their contributions. President Trump’s inaction to fix the DACA issue causes uncertainty that not only disrupts the lives of millions but will cause substantial harm to the national and local economies. A study conducted by the Center for American Progress found that ending the DACA program would reduce the national GDP by at least $433 billion.

“The President claims to be a “self-made man” but the truth is that the only self-made thing he can lay claim to is the current crisis that threatens 800,000 Dreamers who pose no threat to the United States, which is the only country they have ever known and the only to which they have ever pledged allegiance. The President was not required to rescind DACA, and it was irresponsible and unconscionable that he would do so without offering a proposal that provides a permanent solution favored by nearly 90 percent of Americans. Worse, in the days since the initial announcement of the decision to rescind DACA, the President and the two key members of his Cabinet – Attorney General Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen – have provided no constructive leadership to craft legislation that can pass the House and attract 60 votes in the Senate.

“Additionally, I oppose tying the future of these young immigrants to a destructive, divisive, and unnecessary border wall that will send isolationist and xenophobic signals to the rest of the world and wreak havoc on our environment. I also strongly oppose any effort to end the diversity lottery or end family migration, which the President erroneously and offensively calls ‘chain migration.’ Each of these so-called pillars of the Trump immigration agenda is inimical to our national heritage as a nation of immigrants.

“What makes America exceptional is that its strength derives from the fabric of diverse communities and strong families united by a common set of beliefs about equality, liberty, and opportunity and committed to making our nation a land where everyone has a chance to realize the American Dream, including the 800,000 Dreamers, 124,000 of whom live in Texas.

“I call upon the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House to keep the Congress in session for as long it takes to reach the solution to the crisis confronting Dreamers that is supported by the overwhelming majority of the American people.”