DREAM Act Portal Forum - Sen. Lindsey Graham says he's 'never felt better' about his bill to protect undocumen

The podium set up outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday afternoon faced the media, but U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham turned first to the people standing around him.

The more than 100 people huddled in a semi-circle were looking to the South Carolina Republican as he spoke about the status of the Dream Act, a bill he introduced this summer with U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that directly affects their lives.

The bipartisan legislation would provide a legal pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, the so-called "Dreamers" who were standing behind Graham, including eight with ties to South Carolina.

He turned to face them.

"I never felt better about the Dream Act than I do right now," he told them at the press conference. "Here's how this movie ends: Your dreams are going to come true."

Citing a recent poll from Fox News, Graham said 79 percent of Americans support a legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Nodding to Durbin, a Democrat, Graham said their bill is gaining support from both sides of the aisle.

"As soon as this stopped being a discussion about theory and numbers, and became a discussion about real people and their inspirations and their talents and their life's meaning, we started seeing a shift in public opinion," Durbin said.

Graham said their bill has the support of President Donald Trump, whose administration on Sept. 5 rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program otherwise known as DACA. The Obama-era program had protected nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children from deportation, including some 6,400 in South Carolina.

"I’ve talked with him extensively about this problem," Graham said. "I can assure everyone here that President Trump gets your dilemma and is resolved to solve your problem."

The problem for Nathali Bertran and Jesus Perez, two of the immigrants who spoke at the press conference, is staying and working in America without fear.

"Gabriela needs me," Bertran pleaded, referring to her younger sister.

Perez said he made a promise to his mother before she died to visit her grave daily.

"We need a vote, and we need it now," he said.

Congress has until March 8 to reinstate DACA protections, according to a deadline set by the Trump administration.

Along with Graham and Durbin's Dream Act, another bill to address the immigration is in the pipeline.

Sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Succeed Act creates a 15-year process to allow young undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

Graham said the two bills have similar goals, but differ in the details.

"We'll find common ground," Graham promised. "We’re going to take good care of you and your families because that’s the right thing to do."

http://www.postandcourier.com/politi...47d596067.html