PEARCE URGES CONGRESS TO ACT

Washington, DC (September 7, 2017) Congressman Steve Pearce yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan urging Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to establish a permanent solution for people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.

“For decades, Congress sat idly by while the Executive Branch imposed temporary, patchwork immigration policies, sidestepping the Constitution. Congress, not the President, has the responsibility to enact the changes our nation needs and can no longer afford to allow the Executive Branch to usurp its power. No longer can our nation kick the can down the road with questionably legal short-term patches like DACA. We must work together, across party lines, to find viable, long-term solutions that provides fairness and justice for all,” stated Rep. Pearce.

On September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration announced its plans to rescind the DACA Program on March 5, 2017.

A PDF of the letter can be found here. The full text is below.

September 6, 2017

The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Ryan:

I write today to urge legislative action on a permanent solution for people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Whether you agree with the decision by the Trump Administration or not, Congress has the power and the responsibility to provide long-term certainty for DREAMERS. It is Congress’ job to act - not whoever occupies the Oval Office. Since the creation of DACA in 2012, Congress has failed to act on behalf of those who benefit from the program by allowing a temporary solution to be all the certainty these young individuals receive: this is simply wrong. We must formulate a permanent solution. With only six months to act, Congress must work together in a bipartisan manner to craft legislation that is fair and just to DACA recipients.

DACA recipients know no home other than the United States. While finding a solution to the DACA program may only be one piece to overall immigration reform, it is a necessary step that must be taken by Congress. It is time to end political grandstanding and do our job. I again urge action on a permanent solution to the DACA program so this problem will not continue for future generations.

Sincerely,

Steve Pearce
Member of Congress

###