Letter: Dreams destroyed or dreams coming true?

The difference for Grace is that she was born outside the U.S., arriving as a toddler to be with her family. Now her life is in turmoil as she waits for Congress to determine her future and her fate. Grace is a Dreamer, meaning that although she was not born here, she went through rigorous background checks and obtained permission to live, work and attend school in the United States. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act was put into place in 2012, but rescinded in September by President Trump.

Many religious leaders have spoken out in support of inclusion of immigrants and refugees and to open our hearts and our doors to all people, no matter their place of birth. Grace's country of origin was torn apart by civil war. A quarter of a million people died there as a result of it. Pope Francis, in his 2018 message for the World Year of Peace, urges, "In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands."

Grace is one of millions around the world we can help through correct public policy. Please join me in urging Sens. Heitkamp and Hoeven and Rep. Cramer not to deport 800,000 young people and to keep these dreams, and these Dreamers, alive.

It benefits them and us.

Sen. Tim Mathern

Fargo

Tim Mathern is a member of the North Dakota Legislature.