Clarke Statement on House Passage of Budget Caps Bill

“I have been a vocal proponent of providing our Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) with an opportunity to pursue the American Dream. After receiving feedback from my constituents, I could not in good conscience vote for this budget bill. While I can appreciate that there’s a great deal to applaud in the legislation, the Speaker of the House did not provide sufficient assurance that he will bring an immigration bill to the floor that provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and protects the future of TPS recipients.

“Each day we are witnessing the ratcheting up of ICE activities and deportations, fracturing and tearing apart of families, and by extension our communities. Each day, Donald Trump changes his position, with his cynical equivocating, devoid of any real commitment to Dreamers and completely ignoring the uncertainty faced by TPS recipients.

“The very fabric of our nation is at stake and I will not contribute to the deteriorating of America’s rich history of welcoming immigrants to its shores. I cannot and will not stand by and condone the careless actions and unconscionable inactions of the Trump Administration and Republican leadership in the House of Representatives.”

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