[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1172-E1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RELEASE OF THE DREAM 9

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 2013

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I submit this letter, from Rep. Jared 
Polis of Colorado and myself to the President of the United States 
asking for the release of the DREAM 9 held in detention in Arizona.
                                                    July 25, 2013.
     President Barack Obama,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear President Obama: We write you to express concern for 
     the nine undocumented young people who earlier this week 
     attempted to re-enter the United States from Mexico to return 
     to their homes. They presented themselves at a check point, 
     were detained by U.S. border patrol and are currently being 
     held in the Eloy detention center in Arizona.
       As we understand it, these ``DREAMers'' are asking that 
     discretion be exercised by federal authorities to allow them 
     back into the United States and to return to their families 
     and communities. An additional goal that they express is to 
     work to change a system that has resulted in the deportations 
     of DREAMers. Regardless of whether we feel their actions are 
     the best way to affect the change they desire, we share their 
     goal to allow DREAMers and others with strong ties to the 
     United States and who were deported to return to the United 
     States. You stood firmly with the DREAMers when you put in 
     place beneficial case by case relief for DREAMers through 
     Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We believe that 
     the DREAMers currently detained on the border should have 
     your concern and consideration, as well.
       We understand that a long term legislative solution is 
     required in order to provide the most justice for the most 
     people. We are deeply committed to ensure that the ability to 
     return to the U.S. for previously deported individuals is 
     enacted into law, and have worked hard to incorporate such 
     relief into the bipartisan proposal currently being drafted 
     in the House of Representatives. We continue to build the 
     bipartisan support

[[Page E1173]]

     needed to pass legislation this year. While immigration 
     reform is making its way through Congress, we ask that the 
     young people currently detained at the border be released 
     from detention and allowed back into the United States. Their 
     actions to lift up the needs of those deported should not 
     result in detention or exclusion from the United States. In 
     fact, their return would likely be allowed under the Senate-
     passed immigration bill, S. 744, which we all support.
       Thank you for your leadership on behalf of DREAMers and 
     your support of comprehensive immigration reform. We urge you 
     to release the DREAMers detained on the U.S. border in 
     Arizona and allow them to rejoin their families. We urge you 
     to act with all possible speed to make this happen.
           Sincerely,
     Luis V. Gutierrez,
       Member of Congress.
     Jared Polis,
       Member of Congress.

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