Untitled Document

[00:00:01] heads up [00:00:15] I want to thank my colleague Lindsey [00:00:18] Graham for joining me today as we [00:00:20] reintroduce the DREAM Act we are also [00:00:23] going to be joining as original [00:00:25] co-sponsors by Senator Schumer as well [00:00:28] as Senator flake I have introduced this [00:00:30] bill over many years I started 16 years [00:00:34] ago it has two basic premises two basic [00:00:38] reasons first we don't believe that [00:00:41] young people should be held responsible [00:00:43] for the errors or the illegal actions of [00:00:46] their parents number two we believe that [00:00:49] those who were brought to the United [00:00:50] States as children have grown up in this [00:00:52] country have no criminal record who are [00:00:55] prepared to serve this country in a [00:00:57] variety of ways should be given that [00:00:59] chance to make America a better Nation [00:01:01] over the years we have tried many times [00:01:03] to pass this legislation we've been able [00:01:05] to pass it in the Senate one year in the [00:01:07] house another year we've never quite [00:01:09] brought it together [00:01:10] we need the DREAM Act now more than ever [00:01:13] because of the uncertainty that these [00:01:15] young people face all across America not [00:01:18] just with the DREAM Act in general but [00:01:19] the DACA program itself an executive [00:01:22] order of President Obama I've been [00:01:24] fortunate to have as my friend and my [00:01:27] ally in the effort to deal with this [00:01:28] issue Senator Lindsey Graham of South [00:01:31] Carolina we were part of the gang of [00:01:33] eight back in the day and produced a [00:01:36] bill which passed a bipartisan bill [00:01:38] which passed a comprehensive immigration [00:01:40] reform on the floor of the Senate with [00:01:42] 68 votes we had 14 Republican votes that [00:01:45] day and 11 of them I believe are still [00:01:48] in the United States Senate so we [00:01:50] believe that those who have voted for [00:01:52] the DREAM Act as part of comprehensive [00:01:53] immigration reform we hope can be [00:01:56] persuaded to join us again and perhaps [00:01:58] bring in some new converts to our cause [00:02:00] we have a lot of work to do but we I [00:02:03] myself am [00:02:05] strengthened if not emboldened by these [00:02:08] young people they've come forward [00:02:10] they've come out the Shadows a risky [00:02:12] proposition they have identified [00:02:14] themselves so that America can [00:02:16] understand what who the young people are [00:02:19] who'll be affected by this law I've met [00:02:22] them teachers Engineers medical students [00:02:26] just wonderful young people who have [00:02:28] made a great life in America they've [00:02:30] grown up pledging allegiance to this [00:02:31] flag singing The Star-Spangled Banner in [00:02:34] the only country they've ever known all [00:02:36] they're asking for now is a chance to [00:02:38] earn their way into legal status earn [00:02:40] their way into citizenship that's what [00:02:42] the DREAM Act does I couldn't have a [00:02:44] better partner in this effort than my [00:02:46] friend Lindsey Graham well thank you uh [00:02:48] to the great grandfather of the DREAM [00:02:51] Act [00:02:52] so dick has been at this for how long 16 [00:02:55] years so I don't know how much longer [00:02:59] it's going to take but I'm hopeful it [00:03:00] won't take much longer so let me tell [00:03:03] you uh to the Trump Administration [00:03:06] I appreciate the fact that you've [00:03:08] focused on getting the bad ombres out of [00:03:12] the country because nobody wants Crooks [00:03:15] to stay in the country legal or illegal [00:03:19] so the idea that President Trump is [00:03:22] focused on criminal illegal aliens is a [00:03:26] good thing [00:03:27] the fact that President Trump wants to [00:03:30] build a secure border [00:03:32] create a secure border is a good thing [00:03:36] the fact that President Trump has said [00:03:39] when it comes to these kids [00:03:43] they're really great I have a heart for [00:03:46] these kids that's a good thing [00:03:49] so what are we trying to do a good thing [00:03:52] and [00:03:54] 10 state attorney generals [00:03:56] are gonna go back into court and make [00:03:59] the argument that the 800 000 DACA kids [00:04:04] can no longer be given legal status [00:04:07] through executive action by President [00:04:10] Trump that what President Obama did was [00:04:14] beyond the scope of the power of the [00:04:16] president and if president Trump [00:04:18] continues that practice that also will [00:04:21] be under the outside the scope of the [00:04:23] president [00:04:24] by September the 5th [00:04:27] we will have a decision [00:04:30] I don't know how the Court's going to [00:04:31] rule but I think there is a very good [00:04:34] argument that the president doesn't have [00:04:37] the power to just grant legal status no [00:04:40] matter how sympathetic the group would [00:04:42] be to 800 000 people [00:04:46] here's what I would say [00:04:48] these DACA kids have come out of the [00:04:51] Shadows at the invitation of their [00:04:54] government [00:04:56] we're in a dispute about the power of [00:04:59] their government [00:05:00] but they took president Trump up on the [00:05:03] offer identify yourselves come out of [00:05:07] the Shadows [00:05:08] and if you're a non-felon [00:05:10] if you meet the criteria of not being a [00:05:13] bad ombre [00:05:15] or a bad lady [00:05:17] then you can stay [00:05:20] with a legal status that is renewable [00:05:24] the question for the Republican Party [00:05:28] is what do we tell these people [00:05:32] how do we treat them [00:05:35] here's my answer [00:05:38] we treat them fairly [00:05:41] we do not pull the rug out from under [00:05:43] them [00:05:45] as to this population [00:05:47] the DREAM Act covers more than the 800 [00:05:50] 000. [00:05:51] there's well over a million [00:05:54] people [00:05:55] who are brought here [00:05:57] as young people some as babies some is [00:06:01] grade schoolers [00:06:03] by their parents [00:06:05] illegally [00:06:08] and if you told them to go back home [00:06:11] they would go to where they were raised [00:06:14] they're no more connected with a foreign [00:06:17] country than I am [00:06:20] the truth of the matter here is most of [00:06:22] them since young children [00:06:25] have been raised in our country [00:06:28] have assimilated into being an American [00:06:32] would like to stay here [00:06:35] and would add value if we're smart [00:06:37] enough to say yes [00:06:40] we're talking about people who've been [00:06:42] here for a long time not a short time [00:06:45] came here before they were 18. they [00:06:48] haven't committed a felony they graduate [00:06:50] from high school or get a GED they're [00:06:53] pursuing higher education [00:06:55] either serve two years in the military [00:06:58] or work lawfully for three years [00:07:01] fulfill an English language requirement [00:07:04] have undergone a criminal background [00:07:06] check and paid a fee [00:07:08] what I've described would not Castle my [00:07:11] family out [00:07:15] the English felony thing gets a lot of [00:07:18] them [00:07:20] you can't stay here out of an act of [00:07:22] charity [00:07:24] you stay here [00:07:25] if you can prove that you're moving in [00:07:28] the right direction [00:07:29] you can add value to our country [00:07:33] and if you can do all the things I've [00:07:35] described under our bill you can stay [00:07:37] and one day get a green card and become [00:07:39] an American citizen to the DREAM Act [00:07:42] population [00:07:45] they may be some bad [00:07:48] but overwhelmingly [00:07:50] you're good I have met you too I'm [00:07:54] excited about giving you a chance to [00:07:57] live the rest of your life in America [00:07:59] I'm excited about taking this burden off [00:08:02] your back I embrace you I want you to [00:08:06] succeed many of you will go into the [00:08:09] military and some of you may die [00:08:12] many of you will create jobs [00:08:15] start businesses [00:08:17] do big things [00:08:19] most of you [00:08:21] will do the small things well [00:08:24] so did President Trump [00:08:26] you're gonna have to make a decision [00:08:29] the campaign is over [00:08:31] to the Republican Party [00:08:34] who are we [00:08:35] what do we believe [00:08:39] the moment of Reckoning is coming [00:08:42] when they write the history these times [00:08:45] I'm going to be with these kids [00:08:49] to my good friend John McCain [00:08:51] you asked me how he's doing [00:08:53] he has called me three times this [00:08:55] morning [00:08:58] no more woe is me Lindsay he is [00:09:02] yelling at me and to Buck Up [00:09:05] someone buck up [00:09:07] how did I get started [00:09:09] and immigration reform [00:09:12] the state of South Carolina the good [00:09:14] news for me is I do well with Hispanics [00:09:16] the bad news for me and fit them all in [00:09:17] the room [00:09:19] not a big Hispanic population [00:09:22] I got involved because when John ran for [00:09:24] president in 2000 [00:09:26] he wanted to fix a broken immigration [00:09:28] system because he is from Arizona and he [00:09:31] sees the downside of illegal immigration [00:09:34] where criminals come across he sees the [00:09:37] abuse of the coyotes he sees women [00:09:39] living in the shadows and have no rights [00:09:42] and are being exploited and on and on [00:09:45] and on [00:09:46] so I started because John asked me [00:09:50] I've been doing this with Senator McCain [00:09:52] and others now since 2005 and six [00:09:58] I have come to believe [00:10:00] that comprehensive immigration reform [00:10:03] whether done in piecemeal fashion [00:10:06] or done comprehensively is absolutely [00:10:09] essential for our national security [00:10:11] it's absolutely essential [00:10:13] for our economic viability [00:10:16] and as I want to stop the third wave and [00:10:19] never do this again [00:10:21] we've got to have a practical solution [00:10:23] to the 11 million [00:10:25] I am hoping we can find a pathway [00:10:28] forward with President Trump [00:10:30] wouldn't it be ironic [00:10:33] if the man who started his campaign [00:10:36] talking about illegal immigration in a [00:10:38] very tough way [00:10:40] would be the man who started the country [00:10:43] on the path of solving the problem [00:10:47] this problem will not fix itself [00:10:51] I am from South Carolina I have been [00:10:54] doing this for well over a decade and I [00:10:56] am still standing [00:10:57] I have convinced the people my state [00:11:00] that I'm going to stop the best I can a [00:11:03] third wave of illegal immigration I will [00:11:05] secure your border [00:11:07] and I will make sure that illegal [00:11:08] immigrant hiring becomes less likely [00:11:11] because we're going to put people in [00:11:12] jail in the future hire illegal [00:11:13] immigrants [00:11:14] and we're going to have an economic [00:11:16] based immigration system in the out [00:11:19] years and all I ask of you is to allow [00:11:22] me to work with people like Senator [00:11:24] Durbin [00:11:25] to find a way to deal with 11 million [00:11:28] people who came here mostly because the [00:11:31] rest of us look the other way [00:11:33] how do you get 11 million illegal [00:11:35] immigrants in your country you pretty [00:11:37] much look the other way [00:11:40] as to the DREAM Act kids of all the 11 [00:11:43] million [00:11:45] these young people [00:11:48] have the most compelling story [00:11:51] president Trump [00:11:54] as you fix a broken immigration system [00:11:59] remember [00:12:06] that you have the power [00:12:08] to fix lives as well [00:12:11] use that power [00:12:15] any questions [00:12:17] what is the biggest hurdle we're facing [00:12:20] facing legislation biggest turtle [00:12:26] um big bills are hard to explain [00:12:29] if you're in the house [00:12:32] it's easier to vote no because [00:12:34] immigration reform is not a popular [00:12:36] Topic in a Republican primary [00:12:40] um [00:12:41] here's what I think I think president [00:12:44] Trump is right to focus on criminal [00:12:46] aliens his right to increase border [00:12:50] protections [00:12:52] he is right to say that these kids are [00:12:54] good kids [00:12:55] here's what's changed [00:12:57] you have a president [00:12:59] who if he said tomorrow the board was [00:13:01] secured most people would believe him on [00:13:04] my side [00:13:05] I could put alligators On the Border [00:13:08] and I'm not getting there in 2008 or [00:13:11] whenever the gang of eight bill was we [00:13:13] literally militarized the Border [00:13:15] but I don't have the power he does to [00:13:19] tell the Republican base [00:13:21] that we have achieved border security [00:13:23] what has changed [00:13:25] you have a president [00:13:27] who could in a snap of his finger [00:13:31] get the Republican Party United [00:13:34] more than Bush good [00:13:37] persuade people who feel threatened by [00:13:40] legal immigration that they're going to [00:13:42] take their jobs and [00:13:44] commit crimes against their family [00:13:47] and persuade them this is a fair thing [00:13:49] to do unlike President Obama was able to [00:13:51] do [00:13:52] what has changed [00:13:54] a man in the White House who could take [00:13:59] the people who eject object the most [00:14:03] and with [00:14:04] a coherent [00:14:06] from the heart speech [00:14:08] change everything [00:14:10] how about the white house yesterday you [00:14:13] know they had a you know White House [00:14:14] officials telling certain media Outlets [00:14:16] including opinion that [00:14:19] um Trump is not going to sign any DREAM [00:14:21] Act because his priority as he promised [00:14:24] during the campaign his enforcement [00:14:25] first uh let me just say that Senator [00:14:28] Graham and I have been actively engaged [00:14:30] with the White House for weeks if not [00:14:33] months in conversation about DACA the [00:14:36] bridge Act and the DREAM Act we believe [00:14:39] there are people within that White House [00:14:40] who want to continue this dialogue and [00:14:42] conversation and we are going to work [00:14:45] with them we're not giving up on as [00:14:48] Senator Graham said appealing to the [00:14:50] administration to join us in this effort [00:14:52] there are certain things which [00:14:53] Republicans can't do in the process [00:14:55] there's certain things Democrats can't [00:14:57] do we're trying to find that sweet spot [00:14:59] that middle ground that takes care of [00:15:01] the dreamers and border security Senator [00:15:03] Graham can I ask you briefly about your [00:15:04] friend John McCain three times already [00:15:06] today many more on this day to Simply [00:15:09] put those as we sort of celebrate him [00:15:11] today in a way as we begin this fight [00:15:13] how is the Senate different without [00:15:15] Senator McCain here uh it's quieter [00:15:21] uh it is hugely different because John [00:15:24] is a fighter and you know he jumps into [00:15:27] every cause no matter how hard it might [00:15:30] be the energy he provides uh he's coming [00:15:33] back the the disease uh I think they [00:15:37] they got it uh he's going to go through [00:15:39] radiation and chemo I'm not a doctor it [00:15:41] may come back again and he'll fight it [00:15:43] again but right now he's in good spirits [00:15:46] it was a really tough operation but John [00:15:49] is ready to come back and I ask one [00:15:51] thing of the good Lord just give him a [00:15:53] chance for what time he's got left and [00:15:56] I've got left to be relevant I think [00:15:58] John is a force that dick can tell you [00:16:01] about that that is unique to him [00:16:03] uh he has done things that most people [00:16:07] could not do and going forward he's [00:16:10] excited quite frankly about getting a [00:16:13] second chance to finish things that have [00:16:16] been stuck so when he comes back here I [00:16:18] hope you'll talk about immigration hope [00:16:20] we'll listen to it [00:16:23] how big Universal people is that could [00:16:25] be included in this film no there are [00:16:27] 780 000 signed up for DACA so far and [00:16:30] I've just heard speculation over a [00:16:32] million that might be qualified I'm just [00:16:36] not sure what the number is you're an [00:16:37] upper age limit [00:16:38] yes well in this respect you had to have [00:16:41] come to this country 17 years of age or [00:16:44] younger you must have been in this [00:16:46] country for four years as of the [00:16:48] effective date of the legislation [00:16:50] are the chances [00:16:54] a sentiment uh coming from the White [00:16:58] House itself well yeah I want Lindsay to [00:17:00] address this as well but I think that [00:17:03] this is the one area of immigration [00:17:05] where we can find Common Ground there [00:17:08] are Conservative Republican Senators [00:17:09] who've never voted on the issue who've [00:17:11] come to me privately and said I want to [00:17:13] work with you on this there's got to be [00:17:15] a way we can do this so I am hopeful [00:17:17] that even in an anti-immigrant climate [00:17:19] from the last election when it comes to [00:17:21] solving this problem and others like [00:17:23] border security we can find some common [00:17:24] ground and I could just say there are a [00:17:26] lot of Republicans who make a point that [00:17:28] I agree with well if you give these kids [00:17:30] we're all great kids [00:17:32] amnesty or legal status aren't you [00:17:34] enticing more to come the key here is to [00:17:37] be fair to the 11 million starting with [00:17:39] the dreamers but convince people we're [00:17:41] going to do what our great friend Ronald [00:17:43] Reagan was not able to do we're going to [00:17:45] actually secure the border control who [00:17:47] gets a job increase legal immigration so [00:17:49] people don't have to cheat I wouldn't be [00:17:52] doing this unless I believe there was a [00:17:55] way forward to prevent the third wave [00:17:57] but these kids [00:18:00] are running out of asphalt [00:18:03] they're running out of Runway [00:18:05] they came out of the Shadows at the [00:18:07] invitation of their government [00:18:09] they've identified themselves and their [00:18:14] legal standing is now in question [00:18:16] it becomes I think almost a moral [00:18:19] decision [00:18:20] if you ask people to show yourself [00:18:23] identify yourself to your own government [00:18:26] and you do that [00:18:29] then you pull the rug out from under [00:18:31] them you take their legal status away I [00:18:35] just don't think that's what America is [00:18:36] all about I think most Americans [00:18:39] including most Republicans have like [00:18:41] zero problem while allowing these kids [00:18:44] to stay if they do the things I [00:18:46] described they're not Crooks and that [00:18:50] they did come here as young people and [00:18:52] they'll follow their own to the people [00:18:54] who you who object to this [00:18:58] I don't want you to vote for me [00:19:01] because I cannot serve you well [00:19:03] I just don't see the upside [00:19:06] of telling these kids they have to go [00:19:09] back live in the shadows or send them [00:19:11] back to a country they have no idea [00:19:13] about the country if you send them back [00:19:15] to their native country some of them [00:19:17] have never been there as as anything [00:19:20] other than a baby so I just think most [00:19:23] Americans would support president Trump [00:19:25] if we could work out a plan to deal with [00:19:27] these kids and secure the Border I think [00:19:30] most Republicans would so what have I [00:19:33] done I've stopped letting 30 percent of [00:19:35] the people [00:19:37] who are mad about immigration determine [00:19:40] how I behave [00:19:41] to those who feel like you should Deport [00:19:44] these kids [00:19:45] boy I couldn't disagree with you more [00:19:48] we're going to take two last questions [00:19:50] yes [00:19:55] can we stick on topic let's stick on top [00:20:00] repeatedly said that he would be in [00:20:02] favor of supporting these young people [00:20:04] provided those legislation and here's [00:20:07] the legislations secretary Kelly has he [00:20:10] shown any indication that he's back on [00:20:12] this piece of legislation okay uh when [00:20:15] John Kelly speaks everybody listens uh [00:20:18] he says [00:20:20] you need legislation not administrative [00:20:23] executive action to deal with a broken [00:20:25] immigration system and he says he's [00:20:27] broken he's calling on Congress to fix [00:20:28] it [00:20:29] secretary Kelly serves at the pledge of [00:20:31] the president [00:20:33] I think John Kelly is the guy we should [00:20:35] go to [00:20:36] and say come up with a border security [00:20:38] plan [00:20:40] that you believe will protect our nation [00:20:42] from illegal Crossing and also do [00:20:45] something about the 40 percent of the [00:20:48] illegal immigrants overstay their visa [00:20:49] who's a four-star Marine Corps General [00:20:52] he was in charge of Southern command if [00:20:55] John Kelly came out with a border [00:20:56] security plan it would be really hard [00:20:58] for most of us [00:21:01] to vote no because he's so qualified [00:21:07] General Kelly has said as to these kids [00:21:09] he has no animosity [00:21:11] he has called on Congress to act here's [00:21:14] what I bet if he came out with a [00:21:16] interior border security plan that was [00:21:19] rational [00:21:20] and met our needs as a nation [00:21:23] and there was legislation that would [00:21:25] deal with these kids [00:21:27] knowing General Kelly the way I do I [00:21:30] think he would be inclined to support it [00:21:32] one more question on this [00:21:39] abilities and you were saying that um it [00:21:42] affects people who came here as children [00:21:45] but um if I'm reading it correctly I [00:21:48] mean it would include some of the people [00:21:49] from the border surge of 2013 right so [00:21:51] it's a much more recent arrivals right [00:21:53] and these folks would be able to [00:21:54] eventually get citizenship and sponsor [00:21:57] their parents [00:21:58] so it's a much broader you know that [00:22:01] this build is not [00:22:03] this bill doesn't include that bill [00:22:06] doesn't include that provision about [00:22:07] sponsoring parents and such it gives [00:22:09] them a path to Green cards and [00:22:12] ultimately a path to citizenship uh [00:22:15] beyond that it doesn't speak to the [00:22:17] families and and how they would be [00:22:19] treated but we have always tried when we [00:22:21] write this legislation to put in a [00:22:24] timetable so that no one can game the [00:22:26] system oh we hear they're doing the [00:22:28] DreamWork let's head for America you [00:22:30] know so four years you have to be here [00:22:32] four years you know as of the effective [00:22:34] date of this bill so it it'll include [00:22:38] people who fit within that category but [00:22:40] we have create we've tried to to [00:22:42] eliminate the incentive to come racing [00:22:44] to America because uh Lindsey Graham and [00:22:46] Durbin had a press conference [00:22:49] well but we are not changing that law [00:22:52] we're not changing any of these laws [00:22:54] with the streaming it's not about the [00:22:56] parents it's about them thank you very [00:22:58] much everyone yeah thank you [00:23:08] [Music] [00:23:11] um [00:23:40] thank you