DREAM Action Coalition
September 14, 2014

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(VIDEO)

Iowa Dreamers Confront Hilary Clinton on Immigration Delay in Iowa Steak Fry

“THE ANSWER IS NOT ELECTING MORE DEMOCRATS. IT'S ABOUT POLITICAL COURAGE” 

INDIANOLA, IA-  Dreamer Monica Reyes, from Waterloo who arrived to the U.S. at 3 years old, confronted Hilary Clinton at the Iowa Steak Fry on President Obama's decision to delay executive action on immigration: " I am Iowa dreamer and I was wondering what you think about Obama's delay on immigration relief from President Obama. " Hilary Clinton responded, "Yayyy. I think we have to keep working"
 
Just last week, the President announced that he would delay executive action on immigration even though he committed to acting before the end of the summer. The November elections and protecting vulnerable Democrats running in Alaska, Arkansas, Lousiana, and North Carolina prompted the President to prioritize keeping the Senate than keeping families together. Latino voters have been frustrated with Democrats. Hilary has indicated her support for immigration reform, but has also pointed out that the refugee children should be deported. 
 
Dreamer Cesar Vargas continued telling Mrs. Clinton, "the President has broken his promise to the Latino community." Immigrant rights advocates and Latinos have publicly shown their anger at the White House and Democrats. Hilary Clinton retorted, "we just have to elect more Democrats."
 
"The answer is not electing more Democrats, Ms. Clinton. It is about political courage to protect and keep families together," said Monica Reyes. Reality is that Dreamers and Latinos are not ready for Hilary unless she can show real leadership on executive action on immigration. Will she be a real champion for immigrants or another "deporter in chief".

WATCH VIDEO: HERE

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Screen grab from DREAM Action Coalition video.  (Monica Reyes [in purple and Cesar Vargas at left).

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DREAMERS QUESTION CANDIDATES ON IMMIGRATION DELAY: CLINTON SAYS ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS. SENATOR SANDERS SAYS OBAMA SHOULD HAVE ACTED 

“Clinton Prioritizes Politics and Her Party, Not Families.”

INDIANOLA, IA-  "You know I think we need to elect more Democrats," answered Hillary Clinton when asked whether or not she supported Obama's immigration delay.  "Yay" she said, with a thumbs-up, to Monica Reyes from Waterloo, IA when she identified herself as a DREAMer.
 
Clinton’s response was a stark contrast to that of Sen.Bernie Sanders (IN-VT), potential presidential candidate. He said that the President “should have acted,” regardless of the political climate. 
 
The DREAMers had made their way to events across the city of Des Moines to find out the views of the potential presidential candidates in light of the President’s decision to delay immigration action. “Unlike Hillary Clinton, Senator Sanders showed he understood the urgency to keep families together, though was still sensitive to the political complexity," said Monica.
 
"Hillary Clinton’s response is just one small representation of the lack of understanding of the Democrat party in general," said Cesar Vargas, Director of the Dream Action Coalition, who was also pressed the former Secretary of State on the President's delay. "She could not give any sort of real answer to any question on immigration, it was like we see coming from the White House, making us doubt that she would be any more effective in the same position as Obama."
 
Obama's recent delay of his executive action that they were questioning Hillary Clinton on is expected to result in the deportations of roughly 70,000 people, many of whom could have qualified for Obama's relief. 
 
"The answer is not electing more Democrats: it is about having the political courage to protect and keep families together," concluded Monica Reyes. “The reality is that DREAMers and Latinos are not ready for Hilary, unless she can show real leadership on immigration. Will she be a real advocate for immigrants or another ‘deporter in chief’.”
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