WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act with stronger bipartisan support than in the past Congress. This vital legislation would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and TPS holders who have called the United States home for decades. FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement:

“Today was a critical first step because this is the year we will secure citizenship for millions, as the House passed the Dream and Promise Act with more bipartisan support than in the past Congress. This is important legislation that will create a long-overdue pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and TPS holders who have built their lives here over decades. This vital population is deeply ingrained in communities across the United States and know this country to be home.

“People across the country overwhelmingly support protecting these communities, who have lived, worked, and built families in the U.S. for decades. Hundreds of thousands are courageously helping keep food on our tables and caring for the sick as essential frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19, even as their own futures are uncertain. Their contributions are vital to our nation’s continued public health and economic recovery, but without a pathway to citizenship, DACA recipients and TPS holders remain at risk of being ripped out of their jobs and separated from their families.

“We are deeply thankful to Speaker Pelosi, as well as to Representatives Roybal-Allard, Velasquez, and Clarke, for their leadership on this critical legislation and to the Members who voted for a bipartisan compromise. History will remember the lawmakers who stood in support of a permanent legislative solution to prevent millions of lives from being upended in the country they love — but the clock is ticking. Both the DACA and TPS policies are making their way through the courts, and these individuals remain vulnerable to deportation until legislation like the Dream and Promise Act is signed into law to protect them. While we strongly support this legislation and it represents a critical step forward, it doesn’t address all of the urgent needs of our failed immigration system. We continue to believe a pathway to citizenship for the full undocumented population is vital, and believe that too many people who have had contact with the harsh and overly punitive criminal justice system are unnecessarily denied a pathway to citizenship. That said, if passed this legislation would represent the most significant improvement to the immigration system in more than 30 years and deserves the support of members on both sides of the aisle.

“The American people are more than ready for decisive action to put undocumented people on a pathway to citizenship. Senate Leadership must get to work immediately to bring this meaningful legislation swiftly to a vote and pass this bill. There is absolutely no time to waste.”

Background

The Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6) would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and TPS holders who have contributed to the United States for decades.

Individuals eligible for protections under the Dream and Promise Act are already employed and working in our communities, where they contribute billions of dollars in GDP and tax revenue each year in every state in the country.

Nearly 80% of voters support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants because they know this policy solution will keep families together while growing our economy. This critical population is vital to our continued public health response and economic recovery from this crisis, and our laws should reflect that.