Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced The DREAM Act of 2023 in Congress. This bipartisan bill would provide a pathway to citizenship to over 2 million people who arrived in the US as minors, including DACA recipients. The re-introduction of this bill comes just weeks after nine states, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, asked Judge Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to end DACA altogether with a two year wind down period.
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy of United We Dream, said:
“The introduction of The Dream Act of 2023 by Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Graham (R-SC) marks over 22 years since the introduction of the first Dream Act in 2001. In that time we have seen the expansion of funding for agencies like ICE and CBP which have been tasked with separating families, and instilling fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities and Black and brown people. Although we welcome steps from Congress to introduce proactive immigration policies that help people we need to turn these policies into reality. Since the introduction of the first Dream Act immigrant youth have led campaigns that have won policies like DACA, which at its height protected over 800,000 young people from the threat of deportation, while providing them with a work permit. The harm caused by ICE and CBP on our community is not up for debate and must not be used as a political pawn for expanding rights.
With DACA under constant attack, it’s an urgent time for permanent solutions. With the possible end of DACA in the courts, it’s up to President Biden and Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented while ensuring they are protecting the rights of people seeking asylum.”
