Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Democratic and Republican Co-Leads of the American Dream and Promise Act Reaffirm Commitment to Protecting Dreamers on 12th Anniversary of DACA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), the sponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 16), and her Democratic and Republican partners on the bill reaffirm their commitment to protecting Dreamers on the 12th anniversary of the creation of the DACA program, which helped undocumented young people build careers and families in the United States. As of today, the bill has 206 cosponsors, which reflects the commitment of Democrats and Republicans to providing Dreamers and TPS recipients with a pathway to citizenship. The members are confident that the bill would pass in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives if it were given a floor vote.
Congresswoman Garcia’s partners on the bill include: Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY-07) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09) as co-authors of the bill; and Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) as co-leads on the legislation.
“Dreamers are American in every way but on paper. They contribute immensely to the fabric of America — making us a stronger, more resilient, and vibrant nation. As we celebrate the 12th anniversary of DACA, I am proud to be leading the American Dream and Promise Act with a bipartisan coalition of House Members who are committed to finally delivering permanent relief for Dreamers. We will not stop fighting until the American Dream and Promise Act becomes the law of the land because Dreamers love America, and America loves Dreamers,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.
“It’s been 12 years since President Obama first announced the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program as a means to provide temporary legal protection to those who arrived in this country as children. Over this time, we have seen 600,000 lifelong Americans form an irreplaceable element of our nation’s social and economic fabric, serving across the nation as educators, business professionals, healthcare workers, leaders in their communities, and so much more. And while Dreamers have long made vast and selfless contributions to America, we have failed to repay that debt. As DACA’s future remains stuck in the balance, we each must commit to our fight to deliver Dreamers the lives they deserve. That begins with a pathway to citizenship and permanent status, and a resounding message that the United States is their home. And it always will be,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.
“Twelve years ago, the Obama-Biden administration took the bold step of creating DACA to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children outside of their control,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. “This vital, lifesaving program has helped over 800,000 undocumented young people work and build a life in the United States. Unfortunately, radical right-wing courts and politicians have attempted to dismantle DACA, causing so many to live in limbo regarding their status in this country. That is why I was proud to be one of the original authors of the American Dream and Promise Act, so we can codify critical protections for DACA recipients, including a pathway towards Legal Permanent Residence and citizenship. Dreamers are our neighbors, family, and coworkers, and we must protect them.”
“With a vast majority of Dreamers having lived in the United States for over a decade, it’s past time to provide them – particularly those who immigrated here as minors – with certainty and fairness. I’ll continue working to improve this country’s broken immigration system to incentivize safe and legal immigration, including by addressing the humanitarian crisis at our southern border,” said Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer.
“Before being a Congresswoman, I am the proud wife of an incredible Dreamer, Boris Hernández, a loving, supportive husband, dog dad to Lola and Milo, welcoming neighbor, and creative and hardworking entrepreneur. Like my husband Boris, millions of DACA recipients and DACA-eligible immigrants are desperate for relief. As we commemorate DACA’s 12th anniversary, the time to act is now,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. “As the only member of Congress married to a DACA recipient, fighting for the protection of Dreamers is personal. That’s why I am proud to co-lead the American Dream and Promise Act and am fighting everyday to get it to the President’s desk. We must live up to our commitment as a multicultural democracy welcoming to all, keep families together, and provide every immigrant the opportunity to achieve their American dream.”
“12 years after DACA went into effect, the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who have only ever known the United States still face an uncertain future,” said Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar. “I am proud to co-lead the American Dream and Promise Act because it’s time for those Dreamers and their families to live with dignity and certainty in the Promised Land.”
“The DACA anniversary reminds all of us that Dreamers still need and deserve a lasting solution. They are American in every way except a piece of paper. Dreamers are our neighbors and co-workers, they are the classmates of our children, and they serve in our military with distinction. The status quo is not sustainable, and our bill needs to become law,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a senior member of the House Immigration Subcommittee and former immigration lawyer.
“It is far past time to bring hardworking Valley Dreamers out of the shadows. That is why I am proud to have joined with both Democratic and Republican colleagues on legislation to help Dreamers,” said Congressman John Duarte. “These individuals came here as children and are valued members of our Valley community. It's time to give them full access to the American Dream.”
“After 12 years, it is plainly unjust that America still lacks a solution to permanently protect DACA recipients and DREAMers, including those in the AAPI community. These individuals, who know no other home but the United States, have long contributed to our communities, enriched our culture, and driven our economy forward, seeking only the opportunity to achieve their American dreams. As CAPAC Chair, I join my colleagues in urging the Speaker to put the American Dream and Promise Act on the Floor for a vote today. I'm confident the bill would pass, and would be a major step in the fight to secure permanent resident status for our current DACA recipients,” said Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).
“Dreamers deserve to live in peace and continue contributing to our great nation without fear of deportation,” said Congressman J. Luis Correa. “As the representative of one of the largest populations of DACA recipients in the United States, I am incredibly proud to stand alongside my colleagues today in calling for a vote on this bipartisan piece of legislation to fulfill our promise to protect Dreamers. Our Dreamers have earned this. And it is past time we get this to President Biden’s desk.”
“Today, we celebrate 12 years of DACA, a program that has helped over half a million people who came to this country as children stay here legally and has allowed Dreamers to step out of the shadows, go to school and work, raise families, and build lives in the only country they have ever known,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “But today, the fate of this vital program is in limbo, as federal courts steer immigration policy while chaos in Congress prevents real action. We need to pass the American Dream and Promise Act and give Dreamers permanent protections and a roadmap to citizenship. As a proud immigrant myself, I have always been crystal clear: Dreamers are Americans, and I’ll keep fighting alongside them to ensure that they are protected and able to stay in the country that most have known as home for their entire lives.”
The cosponsors of the American Dream and Promise Act include: Representatives Darren Soto, Adriano Espaillat, Greg Stanton, Josh Gottheimer, Jimmy Panetta, Jim Costa, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Val T. Hoyle, Suzanne Bonamici, Linda T. Sánchez, Nikki Budzinski, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Kathy Castor, Paul Tonko, James P. McGovern, Nikema Williams, Brian Higgins, Lizzie Fletcher, Derek Kilmer, Rashida Tlaib, Deborah K. Ross, Morgan McGarvey, Jason Crow, Kathy E. Manning, Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia, Chellie Pingree, Nanette Diaz Barragan, Tony Cárdenas, Robert Garcia, Salud O. Carbajal, Vicente Gonzalez, Jimmy Gomez, Juan Vargas, Grace F. Napolitano, Joaquin Castro, Raúl M. Grijalva, Ted Lieu, Debbie Dingell, Ritchie Torres, Nancy Pelosi, Suzan K. DelBene, Pete Aguilar, Colin Z. Allred, Gabe Vasquez, Jill N. Tokuda, Seth Magaziner, Sean Casten, Greg Casar, Brad Sherman, Yadira Caraveo, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Norma J. Torres, Lori Trahan, Mark DeSaulnier, Emanuel Cleaver, Kevin Mullin, Lois Frankel, Joe Neguse, Robert Menendez, Susan Wild, David J. Trone, Donald Norcross, Mark Pocan, Mike Levin, Adam B. Schiff, Elissa Slotkin, Angie Craig, Maxwell Frost, Brittany Pettersen, Gerald E. Connolly, Frank J. Mrvan, Julia Brownley, Gwen Moore, Raul Ruiz, Barbara Lee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hakeem S. Jeffries, C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Mike Quigley, Chris Pappas, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Betty McCollum, John Garamendi, David Scott, Danny K. Davis, Katherine M. Clark, Joe Courtney, Madeleine Dean, Maxine Waters, Henry Cuellar, Becca Balint, Hillary J. Scholten, Frederica S. Wilson, Ro Khanna, Jennifer L. McClellan, Donald S. Beyer, Jr., Andrea Salinas, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Katie Porter, Matt Cartwright, Andy Kim, Alma S. Adams, Sara Jacobs, Mark Takano, Scott Peters, Sheila Jackson Lee, Marcy Kaptur, Lauren Underwood, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Stacey Plaskett, James Clyburn, Joyce Beatty, Shontel Brown, Rosa DeLauro, Adam Smith, Haley Stevens, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jerrold Nadler, John P. Sarbanes, Marilyn Strickland, Bennie Thompson, Daniel S. Goldman, John B. Larson, Robin Kelly, Doris O. Matsui, Jasmine Crockett, Grace Meng, Jamaal Bowman, Marc A. Veasey, Ayanna Pressley, Terri A. Sewell, Jennifer Wexton, Gabe Amo, Melanie A. Stansbury, Dina Titus, Kweisi Mfume, Al Green, Dwight Evans, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Ami Bera, Frank Pallone, Earl Blumenauer, Daniel T. Kildee, Janice D. Schakowsky, Eric Sorensen, James A. Himes, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Mary Hay Scanlon, André Carson, Bill Foster, Josh Harder, Jahana Hayes, Anna G. Eshoo, Dean Phillips, Jamie Raskin, Kim Schrier, Jonathan L. Jackson, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Brendal F. Boyle, Gregory W. Meeks, Steny H. Hoyer, Summer L. Lee, Wiley Nickel, Christopher R. Deluzio, Diana DeGette, Rick Larsen, Joseph D. Morelle, Eric Swalwell, Mikie Sherrill, Chrissy Houlahan, Valerie P. Foushee, Abigail Spanberger, Bradley S. Schneider, Jared Huffman, Sharice Davids, Shri Thanedar, Mike Thompson, Cori Bush, Bill Pascrell, Troy Carter, Steve Cohen, Seth Moulton, Thomas Suozzi, Ilhan Omar, Lucy McBath, William Keating, Glenn Ivey, Sanford Bishop, Ann Kuster, Steven Horsford, Jake Auchincloss, and Jeff Jackson.
The American Dream and Promise Act is endorsed by: Congressional Hispanic Caucus, ABIC, The Clinical Social Work Association, ACLU, AASWSW, American Immigration Council, AILA, Center for American Progress, Church World Service, CHIRLA, the Immigration Hub, FWD.us, Human Rights First, MALDEF, Women's Refugee Commission, Amnesty International, Advocates for Youth, AFL-CIO, Human Rights Campaign, Columbia Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic, Teach For America, UnidosUS, Americans G.I. Farum, American Federation of Teachers, ADC, American Association of Community College Trustees, AALDEF, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc., African Communities Together, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, CARECEN, Center for Victims of Torture, CWI, Council of Administrators of Special Education, CAIR, Education Reform Now, Educators for Excellence, Feminist Majority Foundation, Farmworker Justice, Latino Social Work Organization, National Association of Social Workers, National Immigration Law Center, National TPS Alliance, United We Dream, Bread for the World, EarthJustice, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Freedom Network USA, Jobs with Justice, MANA, A National Latina Organization, NextGen America, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, National Council of Jewish Women, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, ASISTA, United Farm Workers, InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, Hispanic National Bar Association, National Domestic Worker's Alliance, Care in Action, President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Union for Reform Judaism, Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, Positive Women's Network-USA, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, InReach, National Organization for Women, Japanese American Citizens League, People for the American Way, SchoolHouse Connection, Sull and Associates, PLLC, Sojourners, The Education Trust, Anti-Defamation League, MoveOn, Voto Latino, United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society, Minaret Foundation, APALA, The Episcopal Church, International ACAC, NARAL Pro-Choice America, HOPE Border Institute, WOLA, KIND, People's Action Institute, CLASP, NWLP, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Rights & Dissent, Mennonite Central Committee U.S, NAHFE, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, League of Women Voters, IJDH, NEA, National Hispanic Medical Association, Witness to Mass Incarceration, National Domestic Violence Hotline, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, LCLAA, Coalition on Human Needs, Working Families United, and MomsRising.
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