Outrage and disappointment among 'Dreamers' as government shutdown ends with no DACA deal

Record ID: 984566

  • Title: Outrage and disappointment among 'Dreamers' as government shutdown ends with no DACA deal
  • Date: 23rd January 2018
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 22, 2018) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS AT RALLY CHANTING (English): No Dream Act, no peace" PROTESTERS CARRYING PLACARDS READING (English): "Keep the Dream Act alive" and chanting: "immigrant power" PROTESTERS CARRYING BANNER READING (English): "Clean Dream Act now" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIANA (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), 20, A DACA RECIPIE
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2018 03:33
  • Keywords: House Dreamers Republicans Democrats government undocumented Senate shutdown immigrants young DACA
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0017ZBZ613
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Young "Dreamers" brought to the United States illegally as children were angry and disappointed on Monday (January 22) after the U.S. Congress approved a temporary spending bill to end a three-day government shutdown without a deal to shore up their shaky legal status.
    U.S. Senate Democrats accepted the bill to restore funds to keep the government running for three more weeks in exchange for a promise by Republicans to hold a debate on the status of the young immigrants.
    "I'm outraged," said 20-year-old student and DACA recipient Diana, who was brought to the U.S. from Peru by her parents when she was five years old. "I don't understand why they hate us. We're here working hard, paying our taxes, trying to get a better education, trying to make our community better, yet they don't care. They don't care that we're out here not knowing what's going to happen next."
    Luis Cruz, 24, came to the U.S. on a medical visa from Mexico when he was three years old after he suffered third degree burns on 80 percent of his body. His DACA status expires in March.
    "It's just another form of betrayal. I've lived my entire life in this country, I've pledged allegiance to its flag and so for them to say that they're not willing to protect us, it's a betrayal," he said at a rally in downtown Los Angeles to call for a "clean" Dream Act to be passed.
    Melody K, 23, was brought to the United States from Guatemala when she was 9 and only found out she was undocumented when she was applying for college at the age of 17. She said she remained hopeful for her future and that of other "Dreamers" and called on people to take action to find a solution.
    Last year, President Donald Trump ordered an end by March to protections provided to the estimated 700,000 Dreamers under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, program, an executive order put in place by former Democratic President Barack Obama.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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