House Reps. Express Support for DREAM Amnesty during Immigration Hearing
Reps. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) all testified in support of a DREAM-like amnesty before the House Immigration Subcommittee on Tuesday. The hearing was called by Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) with the purpose of educating subcommittee members before legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal-alien children is introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), in his opening statement, called out the fact that not only has legislation not been introduced, but every witness on the hearing's two panels would be testifying in support of the legislation.
The four Members who testified all expressed the common theme that you can't punish children for the actions of their parents.
"We can and should provide a path to citizenship for the young undocumented individuals who were brought here by their parents," Rep. Coffman said. "These young people have grown up here, attended school here, and know of no other country besides the United States. It should be easy for us to formally accept them into society as long as they have stayed out of trouble and are independent, productive residents."
"This is an issue of fairness, decency, and compassion," Rep. Cory Gardner said. "Their parents made a decision to enter this country illegally and our broken system did not prevent it. They deserve to be afforded some form of legal status that recognizes that they are here through no fault of their own. It is not their fault, nor was it their decision to not follow the law. I believe Members across the aisle can unite and agree that providing these children with some sort of immigration relief is the just and fair thing to do. But it must be part of a step-by-step reform package."
"If the Republican Majority is starting with the young people we call DREAMers because that is as far as you are willing to go in terms of legal status for undocumented immigrants, I say thank you for coming this far, because taking a step in the right direction is the first step in any good faith negotiation," Rep. Gutierrez said. "It is the first step that says a compromise may be within reach. It is a place we can start."