AILA Urges Support of the American Dream and Promise Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Congress is about to take historic steps to reform America’s immigration system with votes planned on the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603). AILA urges all members of Congress to support these solutions that strengthen American families, its economy, and values by voting YES on both bills.
The American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) would provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, young people who came or were brought to the United States as children, as well as recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) who are nationals of countries that were designated for protection due to environmental disaster or civil conflict.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603) would offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented agricultural workers, revise the H-2A agricultural worker program and impose mandatory employment verification through the E-Verify program in agriculture. These improvements would stabilize the farm labor force and ensure greater food safety and security for the country.
In poll after poll, year after year, Americans overwhelmingly support providing permanent legal status and a path to citizenship for unauthorized people who have made this country their home and are working hard and contributing to its prosperity and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two-thirds of Americans favor allowing all unauthorized immigrants to obtain legal status and apply for citizenship, and even more support Dreamers and agricultural workers receiving citizenship.1
Dreamers, farm workers, and the other beneficiaries of these bills are integral to this nation. They are studying in schools, running businesses, working in the fields, and serving people in hospitals. As the pandemic has spread across the nation, they have placed their lives at risk as part of the essential workforce on the front lines.
Americans want solutions that unite and serve the country’s interests. Both H.R. 6 and H.R. 1603 passed the House of Representatives during the 116th Congress with bipartisan support. AILA urges both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together to pass these bills swiftly as a first step in reforming America’s immigration system. Success on these bills will build momentum for Congress to modernize the family-based and employment-based immigration programs, improve asylum and other humanitarian legal protections, and ensure immigration enforcement is done in a fair, humane, and effective manner.
1 Quinnipiac University Poll, February 3, 2021, and Global Strategy Group, “New Survey, Voters nationwide support citizenship proposals facing Congress” March 9, 2021.