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GOD, ARE Y'ALL ASLEEP? GOOD MORNING.
HEY, LITTLE RAIN EVER STOPPED HOUSTON DOING ANYTHING? IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT STOPPED DREAMERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO HELP US CELEBRATE.
AND MARK 14 YEARS OF DACA, OR AS I LIKE TO SAY, IT'S ALMOST QUINCEANERA.
DACA STANDS FOR DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS.
AND I WANNA FOCUS ON THE FIRST TWO LETTERS.
DA MEANS DEFERRED ACTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE LAW WAS MEANT TO TAKE NO ACTION ON CHILDREN WHO WERE BROUGHT HERE FOR THEIR PARENTS AND NOT DEPORT THEM.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE LAW SAYS.
IT MEANS NO DEPORTATION, IT MEANS PROTECTION.
DACA HAS ALLOWED DREAMERS TO BUILD THEIR LIVES IN THE ONLY COUNTRY MANY, MANY OF THEM HAVE EVER KNOWN.
MANY DREAMERS WERE BROUGHT HERE AS BABIES.
MANY LIKE DANIEL BANDA, WHO YOU'LL HEAR FROM LATER, CAME HERE AS YOUNG CHILDREN.
THIS IS, THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST STEPS HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL.
THEY GREW UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT DACA WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THE FINISH LINE.
IT WAS A PROMISE THIS COUNTRY MADE, BUT WE HAVE YET TO FINISH IT.
AND FOR 14 YEARS, DREAMERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE ONE RENEWAL AT A TIME.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WAKE UP, WONDERING IF THEY ARE, WILL BE ALLOWED TO WORK TOMORROW.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO BED WONDERING IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
DREAMERS ARE LIVING AND IT'S VERY REAL.
AND UNDER THIS PRESIDENT THAT UNCERTAINTY HAS EVEN BECOME MORE CRUEL.
HIS ADMINISTRATION IS DETAINING AND DEPORTING DREAMERS.
IT IS CREATING GAPS THAT ARE COSTING PEOPLE THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
THIS IS NOT BY ACCIDENT, IT IS BY DESIGN.
THIS IS A PART OF A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO SUFFOCATE DACA.
ONE DELAYED RENEWAL AT A TIME.
THE GAME IS TO LET IT RE EXPIRE BECAUSE THEN THEY SAY, WELL, MO, WE CAN PICK YOU UP BECAUSE YOU NO LONGER HAVE DACA IN EFFECT.
SO THEY HAVE DELAYED THE PROCESS.
ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN HOUSTON.
WE ARE STANDING WITH DREAMERS WHO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT BUT ARE STILL BEING PUNISHED.
IT IS INHUMANE, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
IT IS UN-CHRISTIAN, AND CONGRESS NEEDS TO FIX IT, AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT NOW.
THAT IS WHY I AM LEADING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.
THIS BILL WOULD GIVE DREAMERS PERMANENT PROTECTIONS AND A REAL PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, AND IT WOULD FINALLY RECOGNIZE WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW.
DREAMERS ARE HOME AND THEY'RE HERE TO STAY.
AND SO TODAY FROM HOUSTON, WE ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE HOUSE MUST VOTE ON THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.
DO YOU STAND WITH DREAMERS? BECAUSE AMERICANS DO.
THE LATEST POLL ON THIS ISSUE SHOWS 85% OF AMERICAN SUPPORT DREAMERS.
YOU CAN'T GET 85% OF THE PEOPLE TO EVEN AGREE THAT APPLES ARE RED.
SO EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS DREAMERS IN THEIR AREA, AND EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD DO WHAT AMERICANS WANT US TO DO.
AND THAT'S TO PROTECT DREAMERS.
AND FINALLY, KEEP THE PROMISE THIS COUNTRY MADE.
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THANK YOU.AND NOW WOULD WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO THE PODIUM A DEAR FRIEND AND SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A CHAMPION, UH, TOGETHER WITH US IN CONGRESS FROM DAY ONE, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO THANK CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
I CAN SAY TO YOU WITHOUT QUESTION, RESERVATION HESITATION OR EQUIVOCATION THAT NO ONE, NO ONE IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS MADE THIS A CAUSE THAT WE SHOULD ADDRESS MORE THAN THE HONORABLE SYLVIA GARCIA.
AND FOR HER MANY YEARS OF WORKING TO MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY, WOULD YOU KINDLY GIVE HER AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR ME? SHE MERITS IT.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN A CO-SPONSOR OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT, AND I WAS A CO-SPONSOR OF IT WHEN IT PASSED THE HOUSE IN THE ONE 17TH CONGRESS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME TO OUR COUNTRY, NOT OF THEIR OWN VOLITION, BUT BECAUSE SOMEONE OR SOMEHOW THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY.
FRIENDS, WHILE WE ARE HERE TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT DACA, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION SOMETHING THAT DACA CAN ACT AS A, UM, AN AIDE AND A MEANS OF HELPING.
SO LET ME READ SOMETHING TO YOU FROM CBS NEWS, MONEY WATCH.
IT'S THE PERSON WHO IS, UH, SET TO HAVE WRITTEN.
THIS IS AMY PICCHI AND THIS IS FROM JUNE 10TH, 2026.
THE STYLE OF THIS ARTICLE IS SOCIAL SECURITY INSOLVENCY, NOW PROJECTED FOR 2032, PUTTING BENEFITS AT RISK OF A 22% CUT.
THIS TITLE WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, THEY MENTION IT AGAIN, AND I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING.
SOCIAL SECURITY'S TRUSTEES REPORT SAID THE PROGRAM IS ON TRACK TO BECOME INSOLVENT BY THE END OF 2032.
WHEN BENEFICIARIES WILL SEE THEIR MONTHLY CHECKS CUT BY 22%.
SOCIAL SECURITY KEEPS MORE AMERICANS OUT OF POVERTY THAN ANY OTHER PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WHERE IS HE GOING? WHY IS HE TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY? IT GOES ON TO SAY, IN LAST YEAR'S REPORT, THE PROGRAM TRUSTEES PROJECTED THAT OLD AGE AND SURVIVORS INSURANCE FUND, WHICH PAYS BENEFITS TO RETIREES AND SURVIVORS OF DECEASED WORKERS WOULD BE DEPLETED IN 2033.
IN AUGUST, THE AGENCY MOVED THE INSOLVENCY DATE TO THE END OF 2032, CITING THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACTS EFFECT ON TAXATION OF BENEFITS.
NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE PART THAT WILL GIVE YOU SOME UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY I'M SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING.
OTHER ISSUES ARE ALSO WEIGHING ON SOCIAL SECURITIES, FINANCES INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS.
DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS GOES ON TO SAY THE REPORT, LORD, THE COUNTRY'S PROJECTED FERTILITY RATE TO 1.75 BIRTHS PER WOMAN DOWN FROM 1.9 IN THE LAST YEAR'S FORECAST, WHICH SIGNALS THERE MAY BE FEWER WORKERS, CURTIS, FEWER WORKERS IN THE COMING DECADES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
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DECLINING IMMIGRATION IS ALSO EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SOCIAL SECURITIES FINANCES BECAUSE FEWER WORKERS WILL BE PAYING INTO THE PROGRAM.THE REPORT SAID FEWER WORKERS PAYING INTO THE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THE TWILIGHT OF LIFE, FEWER WORKERS DECLINING BIRTH RATE.
AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE DONE NO HARM, WORKING HARD, PAYING INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO THAT OLDER AMERICANS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SYSTEM.
WE FIND OURSELVES NOW NOT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AMERICA NEEDS YOUNG WORKERS TO SUPPORT A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN EFFICACIOUS SINCE ITS INCEPTION, NEVER MISSED A PAYCHECK, BUT WE FIND OURSELVES WITH AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS PUSHING BACK ON THE VERY FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH IS THESE YOUNG WORKERS.
SO I'M HERE TO SAY PROUDLY THAT I SUPPORT DACA FOR MULTIPLICATIVE OF REASONS.
I THINK THAT IT IS MORALLY RIGHT TO SUPPORT IT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WILL NEED IT.
NOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT AL YOU ARE SENIOR CITIZEN AND YOU JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE A SENIOR CITIZEN.
WELL, I'M A YOUNG SENIOR CITIZEN.
YES, I'VE CELEBRATED MY 19TH BIRTHDAY FOUR TIMES.
UH, BUT I ASSURE YOU, FRIENDS, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING SELFISH.
THIS IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE NEED FOR US, ALL OF US TO PROTECT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY IN THIS COUNTRY, AND MAKE SURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT RECEIVE A 20% CUT, WHICH WOULD MEAN ABOUT $500 PER RECIPIENT ON AVERAGE.
BUT I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, UH, CELIA, FOR, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
NEXT UP IS, UH, AN ANOTHER GREAT COLLEAGUE WHO WAS PROBABLY, UH, MOST OF YOU KNOW, IS OUR NEWEST COLLEAGUE.
BUT AS SOON AS HE GOT TO, UH, THE CONGRESS, HE SIGNED UP ON THE GERMAN PROMISE ACT.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS OUR NEW CHAMPION READY FOR THE FIGHT.
UH, SO I PRESENT TO YOU CHRISTIAN MENIFEE.
I WANT TO THANK CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA FOR HOW MUCH SHE'S LED ON THE ISSUE OF PROTECTING ALL IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR DREAMERS.
I WANNA THANK CONGRESSMAN GREEN FOR HIS WORDS.
I'M BRAND NEW TO CONGRESS AND STRAIGHT OUT THE GATE, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO SIGN ON AS THE 212TH CO-SPONSOR OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.
AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE AMERICA'S IMMIGRATION POLICY RIGHT NOW IS INHUMANE.
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, WE HAVE HIS DIRECT ADVISORS AND STEVEN MILLER, WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM ADMITTING TO THIS COUNTRY.
WHITE IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM ADMITTING IMMIGRANTS WHO LOOK LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS FROM COUNTRIES WHO HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR GENERATIONS WHO HAVE POURED SO MUCH INTO OUR ECONOMY, WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE OUR FRIENDS, WHO ARE INEXTRICABLE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE TERRORIZED BY ICE, THEY'RE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, THEY'RE DEPORTED.
I WAS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE TOURED DILLY DETENTION CENTER.
AND I SAW AT DILLY, NOT JUST MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED AND WILL BE DEPORTED, BUT WE SAW KIDS, KIDS, SIX YEARS OLD, EIGHT YEARS OLD, TEENAGERS.
AND YOU COULD SEE IN THEIR EYES THE PAIN AND THE TRAUMA THAT HAS COME FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION PRACTICES, FROM ALLOWING ICE TO TERRORIZE COMMUNITIES, FROM STRIPPING FOLKS AWAY FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SEND THEM TO MANY INSTANCES, COUNTRIES THAT THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN FOR YEARS.
DREAMERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN HOUSTON.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN ALL OF THE COUNTRY.
AND THESE ARE FOLKS WHO COME OVER HERE.
THEY DO A GOOD JOB, THEY STUDY IN SCHOOL.
MANY OF THEM GO TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE AN IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT TREATS THEM WITH THE DIGNITY
[00:15:01]
AND RESPECT AND HUMANITY THAT THEY DESERVE.SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MY ENTIRE TIME IN CONGRESS CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, BUT I WANNA BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
IMMIGRATION POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR OUR DREAMERS, FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND PART OF OUR ECONOMY.
AND WE HAVE TO BE FIGHTING BACK AS HARD AS WE CAN AGAINST THE INHUMANE PRACTICES THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN, FOR THE INVITE.
AND JUST KNOW I'M NOT JUST HERE TODAY.
I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL, RIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU.
I EXPECT TO SEE YOUR SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
UM, WHERE'S EVEN IN THE RAIN OR THE SNOW? EVERYWHERE.
WELL, NOW I'D LIKE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE TWO, UH, MEMBERS, UH, FOR QUICK ONE MINUTE REMARKS.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A FEDERAL ISSUE.
IT IMPACTS US ALL AT THE STATE LEVEL AND LOCAL.
SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH CHRISTINA MORALES, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ONE MINUTE REMARKS.
WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU? THERE YOU'RE, THANK YOU.
I'M STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES.
AND, UM, AS A PERSON REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 45, WHICH IS 70 PLUS PERCENT LATINO DACA IS IN, SUPPORTING OUR DREAMERS IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR CONGRESSWOMAN AND ALL OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR ECONOMY MOVE FORWARD.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE DEPEND ON EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
SO, INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND BRING TO THE PODIUM FOR ONE MINUTE REMARKS.
ALEJANDRO SALINAS, A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CONGRESSWOMAN.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE FOUGHT HERE AT CITY HALL TO ENSURE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE TRUE DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
WE GOT UNPRO AND UNNECESSARY PUSHBACK FROM THE REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO SEE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND WE NEED TO ELECT PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF FOLKS STANDING UP ON THE STAGE.
SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, CONGRESSWOMAN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE'RE GONNA PUSH THIS BILL FORWARD TOGETHER.
NOW LET'S HEAR DI DIRECTLY FROM SOME OF OUR DREAMERS THAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR.
AND FIRST UP IS MARCO, UH, EZ, A DREAMER WHO CAME TO UNITED STATES AT THE AGE OF NINE FROM MEXICO.
HE'S A GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN AND HAS APPLIED FOR DACA RENEWAL SINCE JANUARY.
SO HE'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DELAYS.
MY NAME IS MAR ANTONIO CRUZ EZ.
AND ALL BUT ON PAPER THANKS, AKA I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A GOOD PAYING JOB.
OBTAINED MY BACHELOR'S OF DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN INTERN IN CONGRESS THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE IN THE FALL OF 2024, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN THE PIPELINE PROGRAM OFFERED BY SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON.
YET ON JUNE 25TH, 2026, WHICH IS 10 DAYS FROM TODAY, MY DACA WILL EXPIRE.
IF THIS WAS ANOTHER, A DIFFERENT YEAR, I WOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH THE CURRENT ANXIETY THAT I HAVE AS I STARTED MY RENEWAL PROCESS IN JANUARY.
UH, IF MY DOCK RENEWAL IS NOT IN BY THE 25TH, I WILL BE PLACED ON A 30 DAY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR MY JOB.
AFTER THOSE 30 DAYS, I WILL LOSE MY JOB AS WELL AS LOSE THE INCOME THAT I USED TO SUPPORT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
WHILE LOSING MY JOB IS BAD IN ITSELF, DUE TO THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY TOWARDS DACA RECIPIENTS, I COULD POTENTIALLY BE DETAINED, DEFINITELY, OR DEPORTED JUST LIKE AT LEAST 90 DACA RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DEPORTED, OR THE 340 WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE, IN A DETENTION CENTER SINCE JANUARY, 2025.
IN EITHER CASE, I MAY NOT RECEIVE DUE PROCESS, WHICH THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION UNDER THE FIFTH AMENDMENT GUARANTEES TO EVERYONE ON US SOIL.
AT TIMES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO THINK OF WHAT MY FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT ANXIETY AND FEAR HAVE ONLY STRENGTHENED MY RESOLVE OF WANTING TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO USE MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP MY COMMUNITY AND TO CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNITED, UH, TO THE UNITED STATES, WHICH I HAVE CALLED HOME SINCE THE AGE OF NINE.
IF I HAPPEN TO BE UNEMPLOYED FOR A WHILE WHILE MY DOCKET RENEWAL IS PENDING, I WOULD USE THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST, WHICH I WOULD TAKE IN SEPTEMBER, AS WELL AS THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR MY LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION.
MY STORY OF SEEKING TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL IS NOT UNIQUE.
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RECIPIENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN SCHOOL OR PRACTICES IN FIELD SUCH AS FINANCE, MEDICINE, STEM, AND LAW.I WANT TO FINALIZE WITH THIS LAST COMMENT TO MY FELLOW DACA RECIPIENTS AND ALSO IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WHO ARE IN DESPAIR.
I'LL SAY THE FOLLOWING, THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY, TURBULENT SCIENCE HAVE FORGED LEADERS WHO WENT ON TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
AND, UH, WHAT MARGARET DIDN'T SAY WAS, HE WAS MY INTERN.
HE WAS GREAT, AND I TEASED HIM 'CAUSE I SAID, YOU ALREADY LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A LAWYER, DOESN'T HE? HE'S, HE'S JUST GREAT.
UM, NEXT UP IS WENDY FLORES, UH, WHO AT THE AGE OF FIVE CAME FROM MEXICO.
SHE'S A GRADUATE OF EL SIC HIGH SCHOOL IN A L AND IS AS A BACHELOR'S FROM U OF H DOWNTOWN.
AND SHE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON HER MASTER'S AT WALDEN UNIVERSITY.
WENDY, WELL FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STORY.
UH, MY NAME IS WENDY FLORES AND I AM A PROUD DACA RECIPIENT.
I WAS BORN IN MEXICO CITY AND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AT THE AGE OF SEVEN.
UM, TODAY'S THE ANNIVERSARY REMINDS US OF HOW TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY CAN BE WHEN IT IS PAIRED WITH HOPE.
SINCE BECOMING A DACA BENEFICIARY IN 2012, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO STEP OUT OF UNCERTAINTY AND INTO A LIFE WHERE I CAN CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THANKS TO DACA, I EARNED MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY, AND I AM NOW PURSUING MY MASTER'S IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, BUILDING A MEANINGFUL CAREER AS A REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN SERVING THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY.
BUT DACA HAS NOT ONLY CHANGED OUR LIFE, BUT ALSO EQUIPPED US TO CONTRIBUTE IN WAYS THAT STRENGTHENED THE ENTIRE NATION.
DACA HAS ENABLED US TO CONTRIBUTE AN ESTIMATED OF $9.4 BILLION IN FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES EACH YEAR.
AND TO GENERATE $25 BILLION IN SPENDING POWER THAT FLOWS BACK INTO THE US COMMUNI ECONOMY.
WE WORK IN ESSENTIAL FIELDS, INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.
AND NEARLY 300,000 OF US ARE SERVING IN ROLES DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO THE NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE NUMBERS TELL A SIMPLE TRUTH THAT OUR PRESENCE STRENGTHENS THE COUNTRY ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND MORALLY.
BUT LIKE SO MANY DACA RECIPIENTS, I HAVE ALSO FACED OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF US AS WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING DELAYS IN OUR RENEWALS, DELAYS THAT CREATE A CONSTANT MENTAL BATTLE.
AND REMIND US HOW MUCH OF OUR LIVES REMAIN OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL.
THE UNCERTAINTY WE FACE ISN'T JUST LOGISTICAL, IT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING AND OUR STABILITY.
SO, TO MY DACA COMMUNITY, I WANNA SAY THIS, EVEN THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES, WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND WE CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE BECAUSE OUR PERSEVERANCE MATTERS.
AND AS WE HONOR THIS ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY, I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH HOPE, AND HOPE FOR A FUTURE WHERE OPPORTUNITY IS NOT TEMPORARY, WHERE OUR LIVES ARE NOT LIVED IN TWO YEAR INCREMENTS, AND WHERE YOUNG IMMIGRANTS ARE VALUED.
NOT FOR OUR STATUS, BUT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTIONS, OUR STRENGTH IN OUR WEAVER AND COMMITMENT TO THIS COUNTRY.
AND AS SCRIPTURE, REMIND US IN GALATIANS SIX, NINE, LET US NOT BE WEARY IN DOING GOOD BECAUSE OUR RESILIENCE COMES TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.
AND, AND, UH, NEXT UP IS DANIEL BANDA.
UH, HE'S THE ONE I REFERENCED.
HE CAME HERE WHEN HE WAS NINE MONTHS OLD, LITERALLY TAKING HIS FIRST STEPS HERE IN OUR COUNTRY.
HE IS A GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND DALLAS.
HE WORKED, HE WORKS WITH A NUMBER OF DREAMER GROUPS, INCLUDING UNITED WITH DREAM, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER AND LINCOLN AID.
HE IS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DREAMERS.
SO I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN MY GRADUATION REGALIA AS EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IMMIGRANT YOUTH ARE GIVEN A CHANCE.
MY NAME IS DANIEL BANDA AND I CAME TO TEXAS WHEN I WAS NINE MONTHS OLD, AND I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THIS IS THE ONLY HOME I HAVE EVER KNOWN, AND I BECAME A DACA RECIPIENT JUST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FIRST TRIED TO END IT.
NEARLY A DECADE LATER, THE ATTACKS HAVE NOT STOPPED.
BUT THIS FIGHT DID NOT BEGIN WITH ME.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF COURAGEOUS ADVOCATES LIKE LUIS CORTEZ ROMERO, THE DACA RECIPIENT WHO SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED DACA BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANT YOUTH AT UNITED.
WE DREAM, WHO ARE AT THE HARDEST MOVEMENT, WHO FEARLESSLY, WHO ARE FEARLESSLY TAKING ACTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY TO DEMAND A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.
THE POWER OF IMMIGRANT YOUTH IS WHAT HAS SHAPED MY LIFE.
AND THIS JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN EASY.
BUT IF I HAD THE CHOICE, I WOULD CHOOSE IT EVERY TIME.
ADVOCATING FOR MY COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST WHAT I DO, IT IS MY OBLIGATION.
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DACA GAVE ME A CHANCE TO ATTEND COLLEGE, BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE YOU FINANCIAL AID, A SAFETY NET OR A GUARANTEE.I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT.
AND I DID EVERY SINGLE DAY BEFORE CLASS.
I WORKED HARD TO PAY FOR MY TUITION, BUT IT MADE NATIONWIDE, NATIONWIDE DELAYS IN DACA RENEWALS.
MY STATUS LAPSED ON THE FIRST DAY OF MY LAST SEMESTER OF UNDERGRAD.
IN AN INSTANT, I HAD NO INCOME AND NO IDEA HOW I WAS GOING TO FINISH COLLEGE.
THE GOALS I HAD WORKED YEARS TO ACHIEVE, SUDDENLY SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
I HAD EVERY REASON TO GIVE UP, BUT INSTEAD, I FOUND MY VOICE THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TELLING MY STORY AND REFUSING TO STAY SILENT.
I WILL NOT ALLOW FEAR TO DIG, DICTATE, DICTATE MY LIFE AGAIN.
AT ITS HEIGHT, DACA PROTECTED 800,000 PEOPLE, BUT TODAY IT IS BEING DISMANTLED.
HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN DETAINED AND DEPORTED THOUSANDS OF BEING PUSHED OUTTA STATUS THROUGH DELIBERATE DELAYS.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, TWO LAPD OFFICERS WERE FORCED TO TURN IN THEIR BADGES BECAUSE OF RENEWAL OF RENEWAL BACKLOG.
AND JUST DAYS AGO, THE SENATE REJECTED TWO AMENDMENTS, PROTECTING DREAMERS AND THEIR $70 BILLION IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BILL.
AND THEN THIS IS PROOF THAT LEGISLATION IS POSSIBLE, BUT FOR US, THIS IS NOT ANOTHER POLITICAL HEADLINE.
IT MEANS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LOSING JOBS, STABILITY, AND WATCHING THEIR FUTURE DISAPPEAR.
IT HAS BEEN 24 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST DREAM ACT WAS INTRODUCED, AND YEAR AFTER YEAR ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.
NOW IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO DO THE SAME.
IF A KID LIKE ME WHO, WHO WAS BROUGHT HERE AT NINE MONTHS OLD, WHO ONCE STAYS SILENT OUT OF FEAR, CAN SAY, CAN STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH THE COURAGE TO TAKE ACTION, IMAGINE WHAT MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANT YOUTH COULD ACHIEVE IF THEY WERE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.
OUR LIVES SAFETY AND FUTURES ARE NOT BARGAINING CHIP.
CONGRESS MUST PASS THE DREAM AND PROMISE ACT NOW.
THIS IS A FIRE ALARM BECAUSE THE KEY WORDS DEFERRED ACTION.
THE DA IN DACA DEFERRED ACTION.
THEY SHOULD RECEIVE PROTECTIONS AND NO DEPORTATION.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING TODAY.
UH, ANOTHER GREAT ALLY WHO HELP US, WHO HELPS US, UH, A LOT IN MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS HAVE RIGHT SAFETY AND DIGNITY IN THE WORKING A PLACE, UH, AND WORKS WITH US ON MANY OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO DACA AND IMMIGRATION REFORM.
UH, SUSAN DURAN FROM THE WORKERS' DEFENSE PROJECT.
MY NAME IS SUSAN DURAN AND I'M THE HOUSTON ORGANIZING MANAGER, WORKERS' DEFENSE ACTION FUND.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT ALL TEXANS REGARDLESS OF STATUS, DESERVE DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND THE ABILITY TO THRIVE.
WE ARE UNWAVERINGLY IN SUPPORT OF CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL.
AND AS A MEMBERSHIP LED ORGANIZATION, WE'RE PROUD THAT 99% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE IMMIGRANTS WHO LARGELY ARRIVED FROM MEXICO, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, IN SEARCH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT DREAM IS STILL WITHIN REACH, BUT NOT WITHOUT A PERMANENT PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.
IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE IMMIGRANT YOUTH ORGANIZED AND WON DACA PROTECTIONS.
YET WE ARE AT THE MOST VULNERABLE MOMENT IN DACA'S HISTORY.
DACA RECIPIENTS AND THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO RELY ON THEM ARE AT RISK OF FAMILY SEPARATION AND OF DEPORTATION.
BUT CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO STOP THIS.
AND WE APPLAUD CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA FOR HER UNRELENTING SUPPORT OF THE DREAM AND PROMISE ACT.
THIS LEGISLATION COULD DELIVER A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP THAT KEEPS OUR FAMILIES, OUR WORKFORCE, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR CULTURES STANDING STRONG INSTEAD OF DISMANTLING THEM.
AND THIS FIGHT FOR PERMANENT CITIZENSHIP FOR DREAMERS IS A FIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
TPS DACA, DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAKE UP THE FABRIC OF THIS RICH CITY DESERVE A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.
AND WE WON'T REST UNTIL EVERY LAST ONE OF US HAS CITIZENSHIP ION.
[00:31:12]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH GRA THAT CONCLUDES, UM, UH, THE, THE, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE.I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE HELP OF COURSE, OF MAYOR UH, WHITMEYER FOR ALLOWING US TO, TO BE HERE AT LEGACY HALL THIS MORNING, THE HEART OF CITY GOVERNMENT, UH, AND OF COURSE PHIL IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY GROUP WHO HELPED US ORGANIZE THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER WAS DUE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING, UM, BUT HE'S ON A WEATHER CALL.
SO LET'S MAKE, LET'S HOPE AND PRAY, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT IN FOR MORE THUNDERSTORMS OR ANY MORE BAD WEATHER.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH OF COURSE WE'RE OPEN FOR.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ANY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.
HOW DO YOU WORRY THE WORRIES ABOUT THAT? WELL, OF COURSE THE, THE BIG WORRY IS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS SLOW WALKING, UH, THE APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL TO FORCE THE EXPIRATION SO THAT THEN THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND APPREHEND PEOPLE.
AS WAS STATED EARLIER, I THINK THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 90 HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEPORTED, BUT MANY, MANY HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN DETAINED.
AND THAT, IN MY VIEW, IS COMPLETELY CONTRARY TO DACA AND ITS PROTECTIONS.
IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT TO SAY, FINALLY IT'S, THIS IS PERMANENT.
AND REMEMBER, WE HAVE LITIGATION ALSO GOING ON RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, IN FEDERAL COURT, UH, ON THE, ON THE, THE, THE G OF THE DACA PROGRAM.
AND THAT LITIGATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
SO IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO ALL OF THIS UNCERTAINTY AND ALL THIS ANXIETY AND ALL THIS APPREHENSION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PROMISE, UH, AND MAKE DACA A PERMANENT PROGRAM, UH, AND MAKE THEM CITIZENS AND GIVE THEM ALL A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
YOUR OFFICE OR ANYBODY ELSE REACHED OUT TO SCIS, AND IF SO, WHAT'S THE RESPONSE? I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, ASSUMING THEY'RE NOT GONNA ADMIT LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE STILL ON PURPOSE.
WHEN YOU ASK THEM WHAT'S WHAT'S, NO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE CALLED, WE HAVE SENT LETTERS.
I MEAN, THERE'S LETTERS THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, 50 OR 60 OF US SIGNING, THEY JUST TELL US THAT THEY'RE WORKING AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY DO RESPOND.
'CAUSE FRANKLY, SOMETIMES, UM, THEY DON'T RESPOND.
UH, AND A LOT OF IT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS THEY'LL CLAIM WILL BE STAFFING, BUT, BUT WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE REALLY DOING.
THEY'RE JUST SLOW WALKING THE PROCESS TO FORCE THE EXPIRATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY, HOW MANY, UH, DOCK RECIPIENTS ARE IN SORT OF LIMBO IN, IN THE HARRIS COUNTY SURROUNDING AREAS? UM, HARRIS COUNTY IS, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO TELL BECAUSE WE, THEY DON'T GIVE US ANY STATS.
UH, WE KNOW THAT TEXAS DOES HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF DREAMERS.
AND IN TEXAS, OF COURSE, THAT HIGHEST NUMBER, UH, IS FROM THE HOUSTON AREA.
SO IT IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU HEARD WE HAVE AN A LEAF GRADUATE HERE.
WE HAD ALL THE PORT GRADUATE HERE.
WE HAVE KIDS FROM HOUSTON, ISD.
WE'VE GOT KIDS IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, THAT ARE IMPACTED, NOT ONLY HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WELL, DO Y'ALL PULL OUT YOUR UMBRELLAS? WE MAY NEED THEM.
IS IT RAINING OUT THERE? ANYBODY KNOW YET? IT, BUT IF THE MAYOR'S ON A WEATHER CALL AND I'M ASSUMING JUDGE ALGO TOO, 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THIS.
UM, WE PROBABLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE UMBRELLAS HANDY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND
[00:35:01]
LET'S MOVE ON.