Rep. Soto prepares for fight on Capitol Hill to keep ‘Dreamers' from being deported

WASHINGTON — In a pre-emptive reaction to whisperings that President Donald Trump is considering eliminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, U.S. Rep Darren Soto, D-Fla., said Thursday that if that is the plan, the president is in for a fight.

There are more than 100,000 DACA-eligible youths in Florida alone who were brought to the U.S. as children and are currently protected from being deported.

Nationwide, there are nearly 800,000 so-called “Dreamers,” Soto said in a statement.

"President Trump's attack on the DACA program goes against American values,” Soto said. “These young men and women recipients of DACA know no other country than America.

“They have grown up, studied, and worked in our communities all their lives. It is simply immoral to deny these young people, who have contributed immensely to our country, the opportunity to fulfill their dreams without the fear of deportation.”

Speaking to Channel 9 Thursday night, Soto said lawmakers would use the upcoming budget process to fight any attempts to end DACA.

“The response will be that we will fight to get into the budge and attempt to stop this from happening,” he said. “There are amendments that have been filed to extend the Dream Act for three years. And there’s another one that will prohibit any funds from being used to end the DACA program.

“So, this is the first shot, but not the last one in this battle.”

"President Trump's attack on the DACA program goes against American values. These young men and women recipients of DACA know no other country than America. They have grown up, studied, and worked in our communities all their lives. It is simply immoral to deny these young people, who have contributed immensely to our country, the opportunity to fulfill their dreams without the fear of deportation.

"In Florida alone, 102,000 young people are DACA-eligible, many who are attending our colleges, working legally and paying taxes, and providing for their families. Eliminating this program would force hundreds of thousands out of the workforce, negatively affecting their lives and the lives of their families, and hindering our local businesses and economies.

"It is no surprise that since DACA was created its had strong bipartisan support in Congress; we all realize the tremendous value of the program. I will continue to stand with Dreamers and their families to fight against President Trump's divisive and insensitive immigration policies."

On Friday, August 25, Congressman Darren Soto met with six Central Florida DACA recipients over lunch for an emotional discussion about the students' personal immigration stories and the difficulties they would face if the DACA program were terminated. DACA has allowed these students, who grew up in the Central Florida area, a chance to study and live a normal American life with the peace of mind that they will not be forced out of the United States. The common feelings the students shared were frustration and sadness for not being accepted in the country they call home.

"As a United States Congressman, I am here to tell all Dreamers that you are American and that this is your country! Do not lose hope. Do not stop fighting for your American Dream. We won't either." Rep. Soto stated at the DREAMers Luncheon in Orlando, Florida.

"Rep. Soto has also proudly co-sponsored the American Hope Act which would forbid using federal funds to deport Dreamers. The bill, introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, has 117 co-sponsors, the greatest number ever of Congressional supporters on an immigration measure."

Cox Media Group