WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), along with CPC Equal Protection Taskforce Chair Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), released the following statement today after meeting with a delegation of children who are growing up without one or both of their parents as a result of deportations.
“Some of the 1,100 people deported each day are parents. Hearing their kids describe the pain caused by their absence emphasizes the tragic impact that further delaying executive action will have.
“President Obama raised expectations about executive action in June – now he needs to exceed those expectations if he wants to overcome the disappointment his delay has caused. Bold reforms should keep families together and provide protections for LGBT individuals. Until it is signed, the administration should change its deportation strategy to reflect the reforms the executive order will bring to families. Children are counting on the president to act boldly to ensure there are fewer – not more – kids like the delegation we met who are forced to grow up without their parents.”
The meeting, which was facilitated by We Belong Together, allowed members of the Progressive Caucus to hear directly from kids who are suffering as a result of our broken immigration system.
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