Espaillat warns Republicans of Trump’s ‘new America’

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. CongressmanAdriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement regarding lastnight’s DREAMER arrest and ongoing targeted raids conducted by the U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“As a former DREAMER and as a father, I amoutraged by ICE enforcement actions to round up immigrants, issue deportationswithout due process, and conduct raids targeting and terrorizing the immigrantcommunity.

“Wake up, Republicans! This is PresidentTrump’s new America, and we should all be scared.

“In the past week, ICE has detained nearly700 undocumented immigrants, including the mother of two U.S. citizen children,and just yesterday, a 23-year-old DREAMER with no criminal record who was takenfrom his father’s home.

“I am outraged and I am sad, as this is notthe America that I know!

“In the words of poet Robert Burns, a man’sinhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn, and the manner in whichthese individuals are being plucked from their homes, families, and communitiesduring ICE raids is unnerving, wrong, and simply inhumane.

“I say to the President and my Republicancolleagues in Congress, these are my constituents, they are your constituents,they are human, not cattle, and our approach to immigration reform should takeinto account the human elements involved when detaining these individuals undera false pretense of our national security.

“Our immigrant community is made up ofhard-working people with families, friends, and neighbors who love them. As aUnited States Congressman, I say to the immigrant community under attack, tothe mothers and fathers who are in distress, and to the DREAMERs who are unsureof their future, that rest assured, I will fight for you until there is nothingleft in me to ensure you are safe, these raids end, and our country is back ontrack as the beacon of freedom and opportunity for which America is bestknown.”