For Immediate ReleaseContact: Danielle Marse-Kapr845.629.8656 | dmarsekapr@ywca.org

STATEMENT BY YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo

“Last night, immigrant youth and their families were betrayed by Congress, as the Senate and House proceeded to pass a budget deal that again leaves 800,000 Dreamers out in the cold. While this budget deal includes increased domestic spending, including funding for many important domestic priorities such as child care, infrastructure, and disaster relief, the fact remains that yet again, Congress abandoned Dreamers, young people who came to the United States as children and are simply as American as all of us. The lives of these immigrant youth are at risk because of a crisis that President Trump himself created by rescinding DACA.“Dreamers should not be used a political bargaining chips. The futures of 800,000 immigrant youth and their families are being held hostage. This continued failure of Congress to act will have chilling ramifications in the families and communities YWCAs serve across the country. We urge Congress do their job and pass a clean Dream Act now.”

About YWCA USA

YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We are one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 150 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy in order to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls. Learn more: www.ywca.org.

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