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House Passes Immigration Reform to Protect DREAMers

June 4, 2019

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bill to protect individuals who came to the country as children, also known as DREAMers. H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, would provide a path to lawful permanent resident status, and eventual citizenship, for DREAMers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

There are nearly 800,000 DREAMers, including approximately 6,000 in Michigan. Because almost all DREAMers are students or employed, deporting DREAMers could cost Michigan's economy more than $300 million.

"I am pleased to see Congress act to fix our broken immigration system," Congressman Kildee said "DREAMers, young children who were brought to this country by their parents through no fault of their own, are Americans in every way except on paper. We cannot turn our back on them. DREAMers already contribute greatly to our economy, including working and paying taxes. Congress should continue working to fix our broken immigration system."

President Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, which allowed DREAMers to remain in the country, on September 5, 2017. The vast majority of Americans, including the majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, want Congress to act in a bipartisan fashion to support citizenship and permanent status for DREAMers.

"Allowing these individuals to be able to obtain permanent legal status is not only good for businesses and the economy, but it is the right thing to do," said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in advance of today's passage of H.R. 6.

The passage of the American Dream and Promise Act today in the House is the latest action by the new Democratic majority to make Congress work for the people. In recent weeks the House passed other key pieces of legislation that awaits action in the U.S. Senate, including:

  • H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to expand voting rights for Americans, reduce the dominance of big money in politics, and ensure that public officials work for the people, not special interests.
  • H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act, long-overdue gun violence prevention legislation that requires background checks for gun sales and transfers to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and bad actors.
  • H.R. 7, the Pay Check Fairness Act, which strengthens and closes loopholes in existing law, including the 1963 Equal Pay Act, to help ensure that women and men get paid the same if they are doing the same work.
  • H.J. Res 46, a privileged resolution to terminate President Trump's national emergency declaration to illegally fund his border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • H.R. 1585, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which seeks to end instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by improving law enforcement response to violence and funding local programs to support victims.
  • H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act, which restores net neutrality protections, ensuring that the internet is open to all Americans and free from interference.
  • H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which requires the Trump Administration to remain in the Paris Climate Accord, a global effort to combat climate change and its impacts.
  • H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, which helps to protect families from predatory junk insurance plans that do not offer comprehensive health care coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.
  • H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which would help to rein in the soaring costs of health care and prescription drugs.
  • H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which would ensure that all Americans—including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans—would be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.
  • H.R. 1994, the SECURE Act, which makes it easier for workers to save for retirement and invests in apprenticeship programs that help people get the training and skills they need for high-wage jobs.