Outrageous Attack on Immigrant Families Fails in the Senate

Outrageous Attack on Immigrant Families Fails in the Senate

Causa Praises Senators Who Voted No on Anti-Immigrant Measures, Calls for Funding Bill that Protects Immigrant Families

Salem, Ore. -- Earlier today, the U.S. Senate failed to advance the Department of Homeland Security funding bill passed by the U.S. House last month because the Republican leadership chose to include anti-immigrant riders that would repeal the President’s immigration action for 5 million immigrant workers. 

Two weeks ago, Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the House Republicans threw caution against the wind and gambled our national security by piling on anti-immigrant amendments on to the must-pass funding bill that expires February 27, 2015. If Congress fails to pass a DHS appropriations budget, 150,000 federal workers and their jobs in the leading anti-terrorism agency will be affected.

The following statement was issued by Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon:

“Today's vote was an important win for our movement and a wake-up call to Republicans to end this political theater and get on with the business of governing. 

The Senate Republican leadership knew they had no chance of passing this DHS bill packed with anti-immigrant provisions, yet they still tried and accomplished nothing except to show Americans that they only care to appease the anti-immigrant faction of their party. It is irresponsible and reckless to put our national security in jeopardy.

We applaud the Democratic Senators, including Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who voted against this bill and demonstrated their support for our families. We thank them for taking a stand against anti-immigrant measures that hurt our communities and break up our families.

Funding for DHS should not be politicized and used to move anti-immigrant attacks. The only responsible thing for Republicans to do now is pass a “clean” DHS bill, and give Dreamers and immigrant workers the chance at a better life for their families in America. It’s those DREAMers and immigrant workers who are helping to move our country forward and prosper.”

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Causa is Oregon’s statewide Latino immigrant rights organization. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights by coordinating with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, please visit www.causaoregon.org