June 15, 2022

Cárdenas Commemorates 10th Anniversary of DACA on House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, established by President Obama on June 15, 2012. Below are his remarks on the House floor:

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of DACA — the program that has protected nearly one million inspiring young people and given them the opportunity to write their own destinies. 

“Dreamers are our family, friends and neighbors — they’re teachers, doctors and nurses, small business owners, servicemembers and so much more. They work hard and contribute to our economy. They make America a better place for everyone. 

“And yet, they’ve faced unspeakable hardships and witnessed the ugliness of anti-immigrant sentiments.  But their resilience has shined through all of that.

“Let me be clear: today is an incredible milestone, but another 10 years without permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship is simply unjust.

“That’s why I will continue to fight to make sure every single Dreamer can continue to live the country they call home. Because in America, we believe that when given the shot at the American Dream, anything is possible. 

“Thank you. I yield back.”

Click here to watch the video.