May, 11 2011, 10:32am EDT
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the Introduction of the DREAM Act
For young people today, there's not a lot of good news: Few jobs, bad wages, high rent and little recourse. For DREAM students, who have been in the United States for as long as they can remember, the news is a lot worse. They worry about being thrown out of their adopted home and have absolutely no chance of finding a job.
WASHINGTON
For young people today, there's not a lot of good news: Few jobs, bad wages, high rent and little recourse. For DREAM students, who have been in the United States for as long as they can remember, the news is a lot worse. They worry about being thrown out of their adopted home and have absolutely no chance of finding a job.
The AFL-CIO commends Sen. Durbin for introducing the DREAM Act today, which provides a way for bright and talented young people who grew up in America to legalize their status and achieve their potential. With the DREAM Act, these college educated workers or military veterans will be given the opportunity to contribute to our nation's economy and local communities instead of being thrown out of them.
We urge Republicans in Congress to put aside their partisan agenda, recognize the plight of these young Americans and take the moral path for our country and for our economy.
We commend the President for pushing for the DREAM Act, but the Administration can do more now to provide relief to these young people who continue to be arrested, jailed and threatened with deportation under his watch. The President can grant deferred action and other measures to DREAM Act eligible youth - so we can stop deporting our nation's future doctors, engineers and teachers.
We strongly support the swift passage of the DREAM Act and call on all elected leaders to protect the interests of our nation's youth and working people.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.
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