Bill would rescind Trump’s Executive Order that targets law-abiding undocumented immigrants for deportation
Washington (February 16, 2017) – Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and a group of 19 Democratic Senators to introduce legislation to rescind President Trump’s Executive Order on Interior Enforcement, which directs the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of a vast majority of undocumented immigrants living and contributing to U.S. communities.
Donald Trump’s executive order will result in raids, mass deportations, and fear and terror within our immigrant communities,” said Senator Markey.“This policy will only isolate America and undermine our standing in the world. Building a border wall, detaining families and children at our border, and turning back asylum seekers fleeing persecution are un-American policies and are antithetical to our time-honored values. I am proud to join Senator Cortez Masto in introducing this legislation that would right this terrible wrong.”
“President Trump’s divisive and racist executive order is a threat to the safety and security of our hardworking families and immigrant communities, and must be rescinded,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “As the proud granddaughter of immigrants who came to America for the opportunity to succeed, I know firsthand how essential it is that we continue to provide that same opportunity for hardworking families who come to America from all over the world. Every new generation of immigrants further enriches the fabric and culture of our nation, and without them this country would not be what it is today. President Trump is carrying out an unprecedented massive deportation agenda, without regard to the American values of family unity and fairness. This approach is wrong. Instead of instigating fear through insensitive and ill-suited executive orders, we should be working together to find a permanent solution to our serious immigration problems.”
“Breaking up families and depriving cities of billions of dollars in critical federal funding doesn’t make our country safer – it dishonors our heritage as a nation of immigrants,” said Senator Durbin. “It’s time for Congress to stand up and make clear that we will not be intimidated by the President’s bullying. This legislation would end the Administration’s mass deportation scheme and begin to lay the groundwork for a smarter, fairer immigration approach. I thank Senator Cortez Masto for her leadership in introducing this bill.”
“The stories we’ve all seen and heard over the past week because of President Trump’s executive order have been heartbreaking,” said Senator Hirono.“Families are being torn apart. Lives are being destroyed. We need to band together to resist these actions against immigrants.”
Joining Senators Markey and Cortez Masto as co-sponsors are Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
A copy of the legislation can be found here.
