Ahead of Fifth Circuit Case, Cortez Masto and Rosen Warn About Threats to DACA

Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) held a press conference along with Dream Big Nevada and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in Las Vegas to warn against the current threats DACA faces in federal court. On Thursday, October 10, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear a case that will determine the future of DACA and could further chip away at the program. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto called on Nevadans to stay informed on the status of this court case and renewed their commitment to do everything they can to pass a permanent legislative solution that will protect Dreamers and keep families together.

"I want Dreamers and their families to know they're not alone, and Senator Rosen and I are doing everything we can to keep families together," said Senator Cortez Masto. "DACA recipients whose status expires in the next few months can renew while we wait for decisions to be handed down. But our communities should know that court decisions like this pose real threats to vital programs, and we have to stand up and push back. I'll never give up the fight to ensure Dreamers can live and succeed in the only home they've ever known."

"For more than a decade, DACA has provided peace of mind for Nevada Dreamers - allowing them to access education, health care, and jobs," said Senator Rosen. "At a time when far-right extremists are pushing courts to strike down this critical program, I'm renewing my commitment to do everything I can to protect DACA and keep families together. We need to be vigilant about the outcome of this case, and I urge all DACA recipients in our state to stay informed and reach out to our offices for assistance and information. I'll keep working with Senator Cortez Masto to stand up for Nevada Dreamers and push for a permanent solution with a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients."

"DACA changed the course of my life. I spent years in the shadows, with DACA I was able to pursue goals that had felt distant," said Astrid Silva, founder of Dream Big Nevada. "Now as I wait for yet another court date to tell me if I will be able to breathe or continue to live in fear, I keep reminding myself that I can't give up. Too many families depend on DACA for us to quit now, even as frustrating as it is. I'm grateful to live in a state where my Senators not only support me but give a voice when ours starts to shake."

Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been outspoken in their strong support for DACA recipients and their families. Senator Cortez Masto is an original cosponsor of the Dream Act to provide relief for DACA recipients, and she's leading legislation to allow them to work in Congress. Cortez Masto pushed the Biden-Harris administration to take executive action to protect hardworking mixed-status families in Nevada and across the country. She's introduced legislation to fix our outdated immigration laws, led calls to address delays in DACA renewal applications, and fought to make it easier for mixed status families to stay together. In a committee hearing earlier this year, Senator Rosen raised concerns over the significant application delays impacting DACA recipients. Last Congress, Senator Rosen gave a floor speech urging her Senate colleagues to take immediate action to permanently protect Dreamers while simultaneously continuing to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.

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