Commentary: LAS CRUCES – On Wednesday, February 14, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), clinched an agreement that would protect immigrants brought into the country as children. This agreement, titled the Immigration Security and Opportunity Act, is a measure that would include $25 billion for militarization on the border and offer a path to citizenship for 1.8 million of the young immigrants, but would preclude their parents from becoming citizens. Johana Bencomo and NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fe (CAFé) leaders issued the following statement in response:
“Faith leaders, the movement, and others in solidarity with Dreamers have asked for a clean Dream Act. A bill with $25 billion for President Trump to militarize the border is not a clean Dream Act, but a nightmare for all immigrant families. It is a path to mass deportation. This money is not just for a wall. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has declared that it no longer will differentiate between border security and interior enforcement; all money DHS gets from Congress will be used to enact immigration enforcement all over the country and criminalize all immigrant families.”
“Adding to the detention and deportation machine is not a moral choice. How much more do our immigrant families have to suffer and endure? Members of Congress that vote for militarization of the border are voting for mass deportation and family separation. This so-called ‘compromise’ is a false choice for Dreamers and their families by asking them to chose who is more deserving and worthy of protection. We reject such choices. All people and all immigrants are worthy and deserving. It is that morally simple to us. Congress must protect the entire family and all immigrant communities. Safety for Dreamers must not come at the expense of more mass deportations, as all of our families must be protected regardless of status.”
Viviana Arciniega, long time CAFé Leader and Dreamer added: “These are more broken promises and more broken hearts. As I listen to the news I no longer know what to feel, and all I know, is that I will continue to fight for my family and my community.”