>>
about this issue. i want to bring in congressman
luis gutierrez
, democrat from illinois to talk about this presidential directive and what is going to happen tomorrow. that for the first time in many, many years 1.8, 1.9, who knows how many thousands of young kids that know no other country but the
united states
are going to be able to come out from under the shadows. congressman, tell us a little bit about what you feel. how important is this tomorrow?
>>
i think it's going to be immensely important,
jose
, tomorrow. at
navy pier
in
chicago
, we have 5,000 people that have already signed up to get information, see what universities they can attend. actually fill out the form for deferred action so they can get a
work permit
,
social security card
. obviously a driver's license and get to work and use the education that they've received here in
america
and get to work. my office,
jose
, i wish -- the best example is all the six lines are lit up. one goes up, another one. i already have an activity at benito jaurez
high school
in pilsen in
chicago
next tuesday because there are so many people that need help filling out those forms. the enthusiasm level is huge.
>>
congressman, i want to talk a little bit about this with you. because no one knows more about the subject than you do, i may add. one of the things that this program does is it tells
young people
who are not on the radar screen of i.c.e. and ins to come out for the first time. they're not facing e ining deportation processes at all and say i was here before i was 16. what they have to do is to a government that has deported 1.5 million people over the last three years, say, yes, i'm here. and my parents, who do not fall within the parameters of this
executive order
, are undocumented. is there a danger? is there a fear in the community that by giving up their parents, they may be being the snitches?
>>
well, there isn't. there should not be a fear because the information, the confidentiality in the information on that application is to be used solely to determine whether the applicant is eligible for deferred action, number one. there is,
jose
, a fear that that can happen. and it's founded. you and i both know when you deport millions of people over the last 3 1/2 years, that's kind of the mindset of a community. when something like this comes forward, there is some cautious and fear. i've got to tell you, the
young people
in the dream community, they're coming out. they're going to set examples here in
chicago
. i know other places. and i think you're going to see that fear dissipate as they see people get their work permits. it's a
work in progress
. tomorrow is going to be an excellent beginning. i posted today ten reasons why people should come out and file tomorrow. don't be afraid. i met a beautiful
young lady
at the grocery store sunday. she cried when i told her she was eligible. and she's coming by my office tomorrow to fill out the forms. i meet dreamers every day. they're so excited. but there is that level of fear.
>>
some say it's extremely complicated to actual prove you were here before you were 16.
>>
so what the kids are doing is they're going to their eighth grade classes. they're getting their transcripts from
elementary school
. they're getting their
birth certificates
from their
country of origin
, whether it's ireland, mexico, guatemala, getting their
birth certificates
. they're getting
high school
certificates. transcripts are readily available. they kind of make sure, those transcripts kind of tell us when you were in the
united states
and whether you were here before you were 16 or not. there's going to be a lot of documentation they're going to be able to get that's readily available to them. you've got to translate the
birth certificate
from the country to english. you've got to get photos. you know what? there are a lot of people that really want to help them. there's going to be this infrastructure that's being developed across this country.
>>
real quick, why do you think neither democrats nor republicans can get their eyou know what together on
capitol hill
to put forth some form of comprehensive
immigration reform
that both parties can agree on? what's going on?
>>
i have to tell you, i think democrats have to understand that we need guest worker programs, we need to provide businesses with the kinds of workers we need to make
america
strong. the
republican party
is just going to have to get over the fact that, look, pop aren't goi -- people aren't going to self-report. they're here. they have long standing roots in the community,
american citizen
children, and they're good for the economy. we're going to have to get them back at the table. my hope, my hope,
jose
, i know the hope of most americans who understand that this issue should be resolved, is is that we can have a bipartisan approach to it after the election. it's not going to happen before then. in the meantime i'm going to sign up as many hundreds, thousands, millions of young men and women. bring them out of the shadows and sign them up. show
america
there's nothing to be afraid of. when you see them working, when you see them integrated in your community, i think it's going to be a blessing for all of
america
.
>>
congressman
luis gutierrez
of illinois, thank you, sir, for being with us.
>>
thank you,
jose
.
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