This Wednesday, Local Community Leaders Urge Congresswoman Comstock to Be on the Right Side of Justice and Equality
STERLING, VA (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018) – As tension in Congress grows around a budget deadline on February 8, DACA and TPS recipients as well as those hurt by the Trump administration’s white supremacist agenda have a vital opportunity for congressional relief while protecting the diversity visa and family immigration system.
On Wednesday, February 7th, many of our friends will be taking action at Trump Hotel and in Congress. But in Virginia, we will bring home a protest to the 10th Congressional District, the second largest congressional district in the country for people with TPS. Yet, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA 10th District) refuses to commit to support the Dream Act or comprehensive immigration reform. Comstock’s silence in the face of so much tragedy and hate is unacceptable.
WHEN: Wednesday February 7, at 4pm
WHERE: Outside Congresswoman Barbara Comstock’s Sterling office, 21430 Cedar Dr., Sterling, VA
WHO: CASA in Action, NAKASEC, Indivisible VA 10, and other local Virginia community leaders.
“Thousands of residents in Comstock’s district had either DACA or TPS status. Yet Comstock has decided to follow Donald Trump’s white nationalist agenda by refusing to represent immigrants and people of color who live and work in her District,” stated Luis Aguilar, a DACA recipient from Virginia and organizer for CASA in Action.
“Everyday that Rep. Comstock does not act to pass a clean DREAM Act, 122 young people like me lose their status and could face deportation. We want a future and we want to achieve our
dreams in our home – the United States. Rep. Comstock must reject the racist White House immigration proposal. Instead, she needs to hear her constituents and do the right thing. It should be an easy decision to support young people and the many immigrants in your district. Support the DREAM Act,” stated Jung Bin Cho, a DACA recipient from Virginia and NAKASEC community leader.
“Barbara Comstock’s refusal to support legislation that allows DACA recipients a legal path towards citizenship is an abnegation of her duty to represent her constituents. It also demonstrates a huge moral disconnect for someone who professes a deep faith. Despite the calls, letters and protests over the last 6 months, we, the citizens of the 10th, still await her decision. This comes as no surprise since ‘leading from behind’ is what we have come to expect from her,” said Joyce Marino, a member of Indivisible VA 10.
Comstock’s refusal to provide relief to immigrants is particularly surprising given the precariousness of her seat. Just four weeks ago, the 10th gave Governor Ralph Northam 55% of the vote, a resounding failure of Republican candidate attacks against immigrants. The Cook Political Report lists the district as a toss-up and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made the district a top spending priority.
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With 98,500+ lifetime members, CASA in Action is the largest electoral organization fighting for immigrant rights in the Mid-Atlantic region. Visit CASAinAction.org
Founded in 1994, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)’s mission is to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia and Los Angeles, California and has affiliates in Chicago (Hana Center) and Los Angeles and Orange Counties (Korean Resource Center). For photos and videos, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@nakasec).