Sen. Hirono, Other Democrats Introduce Bill Rescinding Trump’s Deportation Order

Earlier this week, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a group of 20 Democratic Senators to introduce legislation to rescind President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Interior Enforcement, which directs the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of a vast majority of undocumented immigrants living and contributing to U.S. communities.

US Senator Mazie Hirono. Courtesy image.

Cortez Masto joined co-signers U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) at a press conference to unveil the legislation and highlight their commitment to fighting Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and standing up for America’s immigrant families.

“President Trump’s divisive and racist executive order is a threat to the safety and security of our hardworking families and immigrant communities, and must be rescinded,” said Sen. Cortez Masto.

“As the proud granddaughter of immigrants who came to America for the opportunity to succeed, I know firsthand how essential it is that we continue to provide that same opportunity for hardworking families who come to America from all over the world. Every new generation of immigrants further enriches the fabric and culture of our nation, and without them this country would not be what it is today. President Trump is carrying out an unprecedented massive deportation agenda, without regard to the American values of family unity and fairness. This approach is wrong. Instead of instigating fear through insensitive and ill-suited executive orders, we should be working together to find a permanent solution to our serious immigration problems,” Cortez Masto added.

“Breaking up families and depriving cities of billions of dollars in critical federal funding doesn’t make our country safer – it dishonors our heritage as a nation of immigrants,” said Sen. Durbin. “It’s time for Congress to stand up and make clear that we will not be intimidated by the President’s bullying. This legislation would end the Administration’s mass deportation scheme and begin to lay the groundwork for a smarter, fairer immigration approach. I thank Sen. Cortez Masto for her leadership in introducing this bill.”

“The stories we’ve all seen and heard over the past week because of President Trump’s executive order have been heartbreaking,” said Sen. Hirono. “Families are being torn apart. Lives are being destroyed. We need to band together to resist these actions against immigrants.”

Joining Cortez Masto, Durbin, and Hirono as original co-sponsors are U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

For video of Sen. Hirono’s remarks click here.