February 15, 2017

Rep. Gallego: ICE Must Release DACA Recipient Daniel Ramirez Medina

"The arrest of Daniel Ramirez Medina confirms what we have all suspected: the Trump administration is indiscriminately targeting undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, in raids across the country. Daniel Ramirez Medina should be released immediately.

"Mr. Medina's detention raises serious concerns about the legality of ICE's deportation efforts. Medina was arrested even after identifying himself as a legal U.S. resident, and was reportedly pressured to confess to unfounded accusations by ICE agents. If President Trump truly believes in the rule of law, upholding our country's 4th Amendment rights would be a good place to start.

"Illegally detaining Dreamers won't make America safer; it will only promote distrust and fear in immigrant communities, making them less likely to cooperate with local law enforcement to keep dangerous criminals off the streets.

"When asked about Dreamers in a recent interview with Time, Donald Trump said he would ‘work something out that's going to make people happy and proud.' Arresting and deporting any of the 750,000 Dreamers who are currently contributing to our economy is nothing to be proud of.

"ICE should release Daniel Ramirez Medina immediately and brief Congress on the full scope of their current operations."

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