Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on Biden Administration Plan to Protect Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens, Expand Work Opportunities for Dreamers

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) today issued the following statement on President Biden's announcement of new plan aimed at providing relief to undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and expanding work opportunities and protections for Dreamers:

“I applaud the Biden-Harris administration for heeding the call of so many of us to use its executive authority to keep American families together, support our Dreamers in the workforce, and boost our economy.

“An estimated 55,000 immigrants in the Houston area are married to U.S. citizens and many of them will now be able to live, work, and raise a family without the fear of deportation. These are parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and friends who have been in the country for at least a decade and will finally have some much-deserved peace of mind.

“Additionally, providing work opportunities to some of the 270,000 Texans who are undocumented Dreamers and considered high-skilled workers will be a huge step forward. These are individuals who are American in every way but were blocked by Trump and the courts from applying for DACA. These young people have graduated from college and are ready to uplift our economy and fuel innovation as doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and beyond. They are proof that when given a fair shot, when given a fair chance, Dreamers move this country forward.

“The Biden-Harris administration today reaffirms its commitment to the immigrant community. I am grateful for these actions taken today and look forward to continuing to work with the administration to provide relief to as many people as possible, including the millions of Dreamers, TPS recipients, and DED beneficiaries who would be afforded a pathway to citizenship through the passage of my bill, the American Dream and Promise Act.”

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