Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) reaffirmed his strong support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and its participants—knowns as Dreamers—as he continues pushing at the federal level for comprehensive immigration reform policies. For over a decade, Dreamers have contributed in countless ways to Georgia and our nation and need to be able to live and thrive without the threat loss of employment and protection from deportation in the absence of Congressional action.

Senator Warnock met with immigration advocates and Dreamers on behalf of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), the Presidents’ Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration, TheDream.US, FWD.us, and Pre-Health Dreamers, who visited the Senator’s Capitol Hill office ahead of the tenth anniversary of the DACA program’s creation. During the meeting, Senator Warnock shared his strong support for both the DACA program and comprehensive immigration reform, which has stalled in Congress, as the best means to permanently protect Dreamers from deportation from the homes they have long made here in the United States.

“As a pastor I believe every human being has dignity,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “It was so valuable to hear directly from Dreamers and advocates about this critical milestone in the push for immigration reform, and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss the urgent importance of passing federal policies like comprehensive immigration reform. I’ll always be an advocate for Georgia’s immigrants, and I won’t stop fighting in Washington for the policies we need to ensure all of our loved ones, friends and neighbors can live full lives free from fear.”

Senator Warnock has been strong supporter of Georgia’s immigrant community since coming to the Senate. In addition to voicing his support for legislation to protect Dreamers from deportation, he has also continuously supported efforts to expand Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from several countries who fled persecution and unrest in other parts of the globe. Senator Warnock has also supported efforts to strengthen refugee resettlement in the U.S., and has been vocal in conducting oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including supporting closure of Ocilla, Georgia’s ICE Irwin Detention Center and blasting DHS for the agency’s treatment of Haitian migrants at the U.S. border and their deportation.

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