Soglin joins call for Congress to pass immigration reform

MADISON, Wis. — Mayor Paul Soglin joined the director of Voces de la Frontera and local activists in calling for Congress to create legislative immigration solutions in a press call Wednesday.

The call, specifically singled out Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin representative, and called into question the rhetoric President Donald Trump uses to discuss the Wisconsin Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

“Discrimination and the singling out of young people who are working hard to live the American dream is just wrong,” Soglin said. “DACA is an important protection and needs to be preserved and strengthened.”

The director of Voces de la Frontera, Christine Neumann Ortiz spoke out about the impact members of the Wisconsin community who are DACA participants — often called Dreamers.

“Wisconsin is home to more than 7,500 Dreamers who have come out of the shadows to work and drive legally without fear of deportation,” Ortiz said. “By doing so, they have shown society who they are: young people with perseverance to pursue their dreams despite incredible odds.”

Ilse Merlin, a DACA recipient and activist from Ryan’s district, also spoke up about her personal experience.

“My mom arrived in the United States when she was 19 and I was 4,” Merlin said. “As a constituent of Speaker Ryan’s district, I am asking him to pass a clean Dream Act that doesn’t further militarize our border.”

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