Faith leaders urge lawmakers to find solution to help Dreamers

Faith leaders from a variety of backgrounds have come together to stand behind Dreamers, and to urge Congress to pass the Clean Dream Act.

“The talk about the Dream Act being not just an economic issue, not just a human issue, but a Christian issue,” Deputy Director of Promise Arizona Tony Navarrete says. “It’s an issue that has impacted – in this state alone – over 27,000 young people.”

By coming together to stand with immigrant families, faith leaders are hoping to show that these families have a support system that is unwilling to give up. They are hopeful that it will remind lawmakers that they need to come up with a solution now and not later, Navarrete says.

“Let’s not hold the lives of these 800,000 young people who are in limbo and use them as a pawn,” Navarrete says. “We wouldn’t be in this situation if we had a comprehensive solution on how we are going to deal with the undocumented youth in this country.”

It’s the job of the people to make sure the government is doing their job, Navarrete says. Congressmen like John McCain and Jeff Flake have to use their influence to help get something done. Navarrete says it’s about showing courage and being willing to stand in solidarity until there is a solution.

Promise Arizona has been on the front lines of this issue since they were founded in 2010, Navarrete says.

“We’re going to continue to remain vigilant and remain a the front lines until we get a solution.”