Issued January 05, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C.—SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s demand for billions of dollars more for a border wall and unnecessary border agents:
“President Trump’s first year in office has been devastating for immigrants, refugees and their American families. His reckless actions to eliminate DACA and TPS have created chaos and instilled fear throughout America. His administration is threatening the mass deportation of hardworking immigrants who have created jobs and strengthened our communities. This is not a genuine offer to avoid a shutdown; it is a false start by an administration that puts corporations and divisiveness ahead of working people.
“His latest demand for billions of dollars more for a vanity wall does nothing to resolve our nation’s broken immigration system. The American people want real and common sense solutions, not an unnecessary and wasteful border wall and more agents at the expense of working people. The Trump administration and their Republican allies in Congress have had a full year to come to the table and work out a solution. Instead they have spent their time passing tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires and corporations, and trying to rip healthcare away from millions and gutting Medicaid.
“Congress must not fund Trump’s vanity wall and give in to this thinly veiled attempt to divide us. Instead, they must act now to keep the government open, and pass legislation to protect Dreamers and TPS holders from Trump’s mass deportation machinery.”