Hoyer Remarks on the Third Anniversary of DACA

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today in order to mark the third anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was created on June 15, 2012. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video.

Click here to watch the video.

“Mr. Speaker, this week, we mark three years since President Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [program] or DACA. He did this in response to Congress' failure to pass the DREAM Act and help children of undocumented immigrants stay here and help build a better future for America. Children who probably know no language other than English, know no country other than America.

“For many of these immigrants brought here as children, through no fault of their own, America is the only home they have ever known. They love this country, and they deserve a chance to stay and contribute to our nation's future.

“President Obama announced an expanded DACA last year, along with the [DAPA] program that deals with parents of such children, to help the immigrant parents of American citizens and legal residents. Unfortunately, a partisan lawsuit has held up their implementation and Republicans have now voted three times to end this opportunity for children of immigrants. They would split families apart.

“If my Republican friends wish to change our immigration policies, they have a perfect vehicle, Mr. Speaker, for doing so: a comprehensive immigration reform bill supported, in my opinion, by a majority of the House of Representatives. Let's bring such a bill to the Floor so we can fix our broken immigration system and create a pathway to citizenship for these DREAMers and others who have been living and working here for almost all their lives.”