Progressive Organizations Demand A Substantive Discussion On Trump’s Attacks on Immigrants

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José Alonso Muñoz | jose@unitedwedream.org | (202) 810-0746
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Trump is deploying border agents to terrorize immigrants across the country: The debate failed to address this among a host of other issues

Washington, D.C. – Tonight, seven democratic presidential candidates will take the stage in South Carolina. With less than one week until Super Tuesday, organizations from the immigrant justice and progressive movements, including United We Dream Action, Sunrise, Bend The Arc Jewish Action, Working Families Party, MoveOn, Indivisible, Women’s March, and Center for Popular Democracy, who last year released the Free To Move, Free To Stay: A New Framework on Immigration for Progressives, are calling for a substantive conversation on immigration during the Democratic debates:

“Under the Trump administration we have seen an unprecedented number of attacks on immigrants. From separating families at the border, caging children, dozens of deaths at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to the Muslim Ban, ending DACA, setting the lowest refugee admittance cap in history,  the remain in Mexico policy, and changes to public charge, just to name a few.

After three debates where no immigration questions were asked, last night, moderators asked only one question on immigration pertaining to DACA where only one candidate was given time to respond.

We are two weeks away from Super Tuesday and we have yet to hear these candidates discuss a host of issues that affect immigrants in this country. Amy Klobuchar has yet to even release an immigration plan; instead she wants to stick to old and tired talking points on “comprehensive immigration reform.” 

During tonight’s Democratic Debate, hosted by CBS, it is imperative that candidates are asked more substantive questions on immigration and that cover the many policies that impact our communities.

If candidates are serious about addressing immigration upon taking office, they must sign on to our Free To Move, Free To Stay platform, which lays out a vision that helps people without hurting people.” 

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United We Dream Action is the leading national network fighting for dignity and justice led by immigrant youth and allies. We are a dynamic community of thousands of immigrant youth nationwide who build independent political power for those directly impacted by injustice. We organize and take action to win victories so that all people can be safe and thrive.