Grassley open to “Documented Dreamer” protections

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said he was sympathetic to the case made by “documented dreamers,” the children of legal permanent residents who, under current U.S. law, are expected to leave the country when they turn 21.

The Senator did take issue with the circumstances that brought said children to the country.

“I don’t have problems with dealing with kids that were brought here by their parents,” he said. “Their parents violated our laws, entered the country without our permission, but the kids being forced to come with their parents can’t be considered illegal aliens. Maybe from a technical standpoint they can, but from a humanitarian standpoint, I don’t hold the kids responsible.”

Grassley said he noticed the issue gaining traction again after a surge of attention last year.

“This was a topic of conversation in Oskaloosa’s town meeting … I had last week,” he said. “One DACA person showed up, and you can’t help but feel sorry for them, because their parents brought them here and it’s a major problem.”

Grassley said he stood by the SECURE Act and SUCCEED Act, a pair of bills he fought for in 2017, neither of which came to a vote in the Senate. The bills would have cracked down on illegal border crossings and barred legal immigrants from bringing family members other than spouses and children, but would also have added new pathways to permanent residency for some documented dreamers.

“None of them ever got 60 votes to stop debate so we could ever get to finality on them, so I’m going to stand with the contents of that legislation,” he said.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com