AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Association of Business wants permanent protections for Dreamers.
Speaking on the 12th Anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, TAB President & CEO Glenn Hamer released the following statement:
“Texas’ nearly 90,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients contribute immensely to the Lone Star State, benefiting Texas’ communities, workforce, and economy.
“As we mark 12 years since the program’s inception, it is crucial that Congress act to provide permanent protections for Dreamers to ensure these benefits remain.”
“If the DACA program were to be terminated without a permanent solution in place, Texas would lose 67,000 DACA recipient workers, and 34,000 U.S. jobs generated through DACA-owned businesses.
“The termination of DACA would result in $227 million in annual business income losses, in addition to the human impact of having coworkers, friends, and family who have lived in the U.S. for more than two decades on average be subject to deportation.’
“Texas businesses and communities rely on Dreamers. We can’t kick the can down the road any further, and I urge Congress to enact commonsense reform to protect our nation’s Dreamers.”
President Biden issued a statement on DACA’s 12th Anniversary. He said:
“Twelve years ago today, President Obama and I announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to allow our young people to live and work in the only country they’ve called home. Since then, DACA has provided more than 800,000 Dreamers with the ability to work lawfully, pursue an education, open businesses, and contribute their enormous talents to make our communities better and stronger.
“I’m proud of the contributions of Dreamers to our country and I am committed to providing Dreamers the support they need to succeed. That’s why I directed the Department of Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to “preserve and fortify” DACA, and that’s why we continue to vigorously defend the DACA rule in court. That’s also why last month, the Department of Health and Human Services took the historic step of expanding access to affordable, quality health coverage to DACA recipients through the Affordable Care Act.
“On Day One of my administration, I sent a comprehensive immigration reform plan to Congress to protect Dreamers and their families. While Vice President Harris and I will continue fighting for our Dreamers, only Congress can provide permanent and lasting stability for them and their families. Congress must still act.”
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, chair of the The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, issued the following statement in observance of DACA’s 12th anniversary:
“12 years ago today, the Obama-Biden administration announced DACA, a program that has provided protections from deportation to over 800,000 young people who were brought to America at a young age. These talented Dreamers have seized their opportunity to live the American Dream. Now, they are doctors, lawyers, teachers, and essential workers who contribute greatly to our economy and our communities. Most importantly, they are just as American as all of us.
“The CHC applauds the steps the Biden-Harris administration has already taken to protect Dreamers, including new regulations from the Department of Homeland Security to 'preserve and fortify' the DACA program, fighting states like Texas in court as they attempt to strip them of the only home they have ever known, and action to expand health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
“Dreamers and their loved ones have endured anxiety and uncertainty throughout years of legal limbo. It’s time Congress passed the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which was reintroduced in the House last year by CHC Whip Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), CHC member Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09). This bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients.
“I look forward to joining the President, DACA recipients, and stakeholders at the White House on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of DACA and to celebrate Dreamers. The CHC continues to encourage the President and his Administration to meet the moment and take action to help keep families together by protecting the spouses of U.S. Citizens and making it easier for our Dreamers to contribute to our economy with expedited access to work permits and inadmissibility waivers, so they can return quickly after completing the work visa process in their home country. These are just two of a number of executive orders the CHC has asked the President to implement.
“There is no substitute for Congressional action. However, in the face of Congress’ inaction and Republicans’ failure to do anything to provide protections for our Dreamers, the President can and should continue to do all he can to support and protect our friends and neighbors because this is the only country they know. Their home is here."
One member of Congress who is trying hard to provide permanent protection for Dreamers is U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Houston. Garcia has sponsored the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 16).
On the 12th Anniversary of the program, Garcia said DACA has helped undocumented young people build careers and families in the United States.
“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,” Garcia said.
As of today, Garcia’s bill has 206 cosponsors. She said this reflects the commitment of Democrats and Republicans to providing Dreamers and
As of today, Garcia’s bill has 206 cosponsors. She said this reflects the commitment of Democrats and Republicans to providing Dreamers and those with temporary protected status (TPS) a pathway to citizenship.
Garcia said she and her colleagues are confident 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.
The co-leaders of Garcia’s legislation gave these comments:
Congresswoman Clarke said: “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.”
Congresswoman Velázquez said: “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. 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.”
Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer said: “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.”
Congresswoman Ramirez said: “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. 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 every day 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.”
Congresswoman Salazar said: “Twelve 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. 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.”
Congresswoman Lofgren is a senior member of the House Immigration Subcommittee and former immigration lawyer. She said: “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.”
Congressman Duarte said: “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. 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.”
Congresswoman Chu is chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She said:“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."
Congressman Correa said: “Dreamers deserve to live in peace and continue contributing to our great nation without fear of deportation. 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.”
Congresswoman Jayapal is chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She said: “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. 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.
