Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was momentarily overcome with emotion after the Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s challenge to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in a landmark decision.
The Democratic leader said, “This is a wonderful, wonderful day for the DACA kids, for their families and for the American dream. We’ve always believed in immigration in America.”
He shot a look to the Republican side of the aisle and added, “We’ve had some dark forces opposing it in recent years. But we believe in it, it’s part of our soul. Every one of us cares about immigrants and so many of us are descendants of immigrants.”
Schumer also noted the Supreme Court’s Monday decision to endorse protections for members of the LGBT community.
The New York lawmaker said that he felt the court’s rulings were “surprising, but welcome,” adding, “It gives you some faith that the laws, rules and morays of this country can be upheld.”
He continued, choking up, saying, “Wow, the decision’s amazing. I am so happy — these kids and families, I feel for them — and I think all of America does,” before moving into his next topic. Schumer grabbed a tissue from beneath the lectern and said, “The Supreme Court, who would have thought, would have so many good decisions in one week.”
Watch the video below:
https://twitter.com/AlexThomas/status/1273630463287009283?s=20
I literally cried tears of joy when I heard the DACA decision.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 18, 2020
The wonderful young Dreamers and their families have a huge burden lifted off their shoulders.
One day they will become American citizens. https://t.co/exh0OIlniJ
This is hardly the first time that the Democratic lawmaker has choked up when talking about immigration.
After Trump signed the executive order that was eventually overturned on Thursday — after nearly three years — Schmer choked up during a press conference and called Trump’s order “mean-spirited and un-American.”
Of course, that led Trump to give Schumer the nickname “cryin’ Chuck,” saying, “I call him cryin’ Chuck because I saw him cry one time while making a speech.”