Democratic Senators: The U.S. Has “an Obligation” to Pass Amnesty Bill

Last week, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act which “seeks to provide permanent status not only to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as minors, known as Dreamers, but also to those living in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs.”

A group of Democratic Senators have called on Senate Republicans to do the same. They say the U.S. has “an obligation” to pass amnesty. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (CA), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Ben Cardin (MD.) and Tim Kaine (VA) have “introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, which would allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency.”

Feinstein believes these individuals have “earned the right” to be protected. A statement which appears on her website reads, “The Senate needs to follow the House’s lead and pass these important protections for immigrant families who have been living and working in the United States for decades. After fleeing wars and natural disasters, these families have established deep roots in our communities and earned the right to remain together here in the United States.”

Van Hollen issued a statement, which said: “The House has done its job for Dreamers and TPS recipients – now the Senate must do the same. These families, including nearly 30,000 TPS recipients in Maryland, have lived here legally for years. We cannot in good faith send them back to some of the most dangerous places in the world. This legislation, coupled with critical protections for Dreamers, will give these families certainty and security.”

Cardin went even further saying that the U.S. has an obligation to act.

The Senate must act and the president must sign into law protection for Dreamers, who mostly have known no other country but America, as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients, many of whom have been here for decades as violence and repression continue to rage in their home country. These individuals have lawfully lived and worked in the U.S. as our neighbors, as they sought refuge in the U.S. We have an obligation to take action and give needed predictability and safety to people who are in an uncertain status. We need to stand up for the American values of compassion and diversity that have made this country stronger.

“It’s on the Senate to do the same,” said Kaine. “These people are here because of circumstances beyond their control, and they have become established, productive members of our communities who deserve to remain in the country they now call home.”

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a program which was created under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 (INA). It provides “temporary legal status to illegals who cannot return to their country of origin due to ongoing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary reasons.”

But why is it the “obligation” of the American taxpayer to protect people who have entered the U.S. illegally? Because it will guarantee that Democrats maintain power for years to come? The cost to our country is enormous and it is straining our resources.

In an earlier post, I wrote about the budget agreement reached over the weekend in the California state legislature which will provide full health benefits to 90,000 illegals. In the meantime, they are imposing the “individual mandate” on U.S. citizens who do not purchase health insurance, in most cases because they can’t afford to do so, to pay for it. Let’s take care of low-income, uninsured Americans first, why don’t we, before taking care of illegal immigrants.

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