Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Statement on Trump Administration’s Immigration Principles

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Statement on Trump Administration’s Immigration Principles

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) and CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statements in response to the Trump Administration’s immigration principles released earlier this week:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

“The Trump Administration’s reprehensible immigration principles are filled with poison pills that are a complete non-starter for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. DREAMers are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation, and we will not allow these young people to be used as bargaining chips to further the President’s xenophobic agenda.

“By offering a partisan proposal that uses tax payer dollars to fund a divisive border wall, attacks sanctuary cities, targets refugee children, and makes drastic changes to our legal immigration system, President Trump has signaled that he is willing to derail the bipartisan, bicameral progress that we have made in Congress simply to appease his anti-immigrant base.

“This is unacceptable. I urge Donald Trump to return to the serious negotiating position he adopted previously. That means dropping his outrageously xenophobic demands and instead working with the House and Senate in good faith to pass a clean DREAM Act that will enable our nation’s DREAMers to come out of the shadows, earn a path to citizenship, and continue to contribute to the only country they call home.”

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair:

“Let me be clear – the only thing on the table is passing a clean Dream Act and protecting the 1.5 million young people who would be eligible for relief. President Trump’s immigration wishlist is a white supremacist’s dream. At a time when the future of 800,000 young people hangs in the balance, it is unacceptable for the President to bring forth restrictionist rhetoric that sets us back decades.

“Instead of trying to ram through inhumane immigration policies, including building a border wall and cracking down on refugee children, we should first look at protecting these brave young people. These cruel and unreasonable demands will derail the future of any bipartisan fix to DACA.

“President Trump must understand one thing: Immigrants built this country, they are woven into the American fabric, and they are here to stay. I call on my Republican colleagues to reject these poison pills and work with us to pass a clean Dream Act.”

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.