House Republicans reject Kathy Castor amendment to protect DREAMers

President Donald Trump said beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program shouldn’t worry about their future, despite an announcement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the program will end in six months unless Congress addresses the issue.

On Thursday, Trump tweeted that DACA recipients have “nothing to worry about” despite the fact that his administration is phasing out the program. That news came despite a report from CBS News that the White House had issued a set of talking points on Tuesday affirming that DACA recipient should prepare to self-deport.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/905788459301908480

Meanwhile, Republicans on the House Rules Committee voted down an amendment offered by Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor on Wednesday night to protect the so-called DREAMers from deportation.

“Despite the chorus from some Republican lawmakers who say they want to protect DREAMers from deportation, the Republican majority refused to allow my amendment to come to the floor for debate and a vote.  Speaker Ryan and Republicans in Congress appear unwilling to take any step to protect DREAMers despite widespread calls for action from families, churches and businesses across America,” Castor said in a statement Thursday.

“Congress must immediately pass the DREAM Act to provide certainty and stability to these young people and our community. I will fight every day and in every way possible to protect our young DREAMers.  They know no other home but America, and my Republican colleagues and President Trump must live up to their rhetoric and do the right thing and support and pass legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers.”

In her statement, Castor also noted that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would accept DACA renewal applications filed through October 5, 2017, for current DACA recipients whose authorizations expire between Sep. 5, 2017 and Mar. 5, 2018.

“If you or someone you know is a DACA student or works with DACA students whose renewal is coming up, they should apply immediately and in any case before the Oct. 5 deadline. These students will be able to stay on DACA for two years,” Castor said.