DACA
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a federal program that allows immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as minors before 2012 to earn conditional renewable legal status if they meet a number of requirements. DACA has faced legal battles in the federal courts over the constitutionality of how it created in 2012 through executive order. In 2017 President Trump rescinded DACA, but said that DACA had been beneficial and called on Congress to re-enact it through legislation. In 2020 the Supreme Court ruled that Trump's rescinding of DACA was illegal and allowed the program to stand, however the program's future is uncertain as it continues to face legal battles in federal courts. DACA recipients are also referred to as Dreamers, a term originating from the DREAM Act.
March 23rd, 2018
This morning, while the $1.3 trillion federal omnibus budget bill was waiting to be approved by the President, Donald Trump tweeted, “I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,...
March 15th, 2018
With a spending bill that needs to be passed on March 23rd representing the last semi-likely opportunity for any kind of immigration-related legislation to be passed before congressional mid-term elections, the White House...
March 6th, 2018
A few weeks back I wrote about how Romney-Clinton voters, turned off by Trump’s action on immigration, were poised to influence districts like the Texas 7th.
February 16th, 2018
Yesterday I voted for the Secure and Succeed Act, a proposed solution for DACA recipients that provides a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young adults and strengthens border security. Excerpts of my remarks...
February 15th, 2018
CONTACT SENATORS CORNYN AND CRUZ NOW AND GIVE THEM THIS MESSAGE
February 12th, 2018
With a federal budget deal completed, the US Senate is now turning its focus to addressing immigration. On Monday, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a group of GOP senators to formally introduce a plan aligning wi
February 7th, 2018
As of January 13, 2018, the Government resumed accepting requests to renew grants of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in response to the federal court order issued by a Federal Judge in California. The DACA...
January 30th, 2018
On January 25th, the White House released a framework on immigration reform and border security outlining what it would like Congress to include in a much-anticipated legislative solution to help deter illegal immigration...
January 30th, 2018
President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union Speech tonight. My guest is Jim “Mac” McInvale, a successful businessman, founder of Gallery Furniture and world-class philanthropist who embodies the American Dream...
January 24th, 2018
Yesterday at a press conference, I discussed the remaining priorities in need of full funding after the government shutdown, including the Defense Department and disaster relief. Excerpts of my remarks are below, and video...
March 22nd, 2018
We need to decide what is best for the United States, for the economy, and for safety of our country. But that decision needs to be made by Congress, not be left solely in the hands of the president — who still feels...
March 8th, 2018
As the fate of Dreamers remains in limbo, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) introduced a bipartisan bill last week that would provide a “three-for-three” approach to protect Dreamers and...
February 26th, 2018
The petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment is denied without prejudice. It is assumed that the Court of Appeals will proceed expeditiously to decide this case.” Injunction remains in place, DACA renewal...
February 15th, 2018
The Senate voted on four immigration bills on Thursday afternoon; they need 60 votes to advance. They all failed.
February 14th, 2018
Today on the Senate floor, I told the stories of several DACA recipients in Texas. One of those DACA recipients is Julio Ramos, a biology teacher who is getting his Master’s degree in biomedical informatics. He’s from...
February 12th, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. - James and John, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) who joined the military, were featured this afternoon on “The Lead with Jake Tapper.
February 2nd, 2018
Military veterans, law enforcement leaders, evangelical pastors, Christian Dreamers, business leaders and the president of the nation’s fifth largest university: These are among the prominent figures who are urging Congress...
January 30th, 2018
Today at a press conference, I urged my Democratic colleagues to join Republicans and the President in finding a bipartisan solution for recipients of the DACA program.
January 26th, 2018
Now, the White House is laying out the specific elements it wants to see from a bill offering permanent protection for people in the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
January 23rd, 2018
As the March 5th deadline at which point DACA recipients will begin to lose protection from deportation approaches, the topic of immigration reform has risen to the foref