CHICAGO TRIBUNE
By Rick Pearson
September 6, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-democratic-national-convention-gut-20120906,0,7022476.story
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez used his turn on the Democratic National Convention stage Wednesday to hail President Barack Obama's support for immigration reform and blasted Republican nominee Mitt Romney as someone who wants to turn into "nightmares" the dreams of young children brought into the country by illegal immigrant adults.
Gutierrez hailed a recent Obama executive order that allows people who entered the United States illegally as children to remain and work without fear of deportation for at least two years.
"We call them the 'Dreamers,' because they are young people who want their shot at the American dream. They are students and volunteers and leaders. Many want to join the armed forces. They are true Americans. They are American in every way — except on paper," said Gutierrez, the West Side Democrat who has long pushed for immigration reform.
"Now, America faces a stark choice. The future of over 1 million good people will be decided in this election. We can't deny them. President Obama is protecting immigrants. Mitt Romney wants to send them back," Gutierrez said. "This election will determine whether high school valedictorians, football team captains and student council presidents will be treated with respect or treated like suspects, whether they reach their dreams or whether Mitt Romney turns their dreams into nightmares."
Gutierrez likened immigration rights to other civil rights battles in America, contending that "from marriage equality to voting rights, someone will fight against expanding the rights enjoyed by some Americans to Americans."
Romney has opposed any immigration reform that allows illegal immigrants to gain a path to U.S. citizenship without first leaving the country.
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