Rep. Gutierrez's (D-IL) Message to Dreamers: 'Stay Strong, Stay Loud'
As a child of immigrants, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez is a fierce advocate for DACA recipients. Cheddar spoke with Congressman Gutierrez moments after Democrats in the Senate agreed to table a bill that would protect Dreamers until a later date, solely based on a promise from Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Congressman Gutierrez is disappointed his Senate colleagues 'caved' and agreed to any deal that did not protect DACA recipients. He believes Republicans are 'against immigrants' and is not confident there will be a bipartisan agreement. 'Trump changed the definition of bipartisanship,' the Congressman said. He is disappointed his Democrat colleagues still won't 'go to the mat' for his community.
Congressman Gutierrez says he will not vote for any spending bill that funds the deportation of Dreamers. He encourages them to stay vigilant and continue to fight for their rights through activism.
With a government shutdown five days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans.
Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey announced on Saturday that he will run against Sen. Robert Menendez in the state’s Democratic primary for Senate next year, saying he feels compelled to run against the three-term senator after he and his wife were indicted on sweeping corruption charges.
