The DREAM Action Coalition, an advocacy group for undocumented youth living in the United States, issued a statement Friday calling on Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to condemn Rep. Don Young (R-AK), who characterized migrant workers as “wetbacks.” Rubio and Schumer are two of members of the Senate’s “Gang of 8” that has taken the lead on immigration reform.
While senseless rhetoric used by Republicans is hardly surprising, what is surprising is that the Gang of 8 leaders working on immigration reform are not publicly condemning these remarks. We applaud the quick response from Texas Senator John Cronyn and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rubén Hinojosa for holding accountable their colleague.
As senators that come from states with large latino and immigrant communities, Sen. Schumer and Sen. Rubio must condemn these insensible remarks to demonstrate their commitment to fixing our broken immigration system and demonstrate neither party will tolerate insulting remarks against Latinos, immigrants, or any community in our country.
