AILA Quicktake #261: Democrats Introduce the Dream and Promise Act
3/13/19
AILA Doc. No. 19031340.
DACA, Removal & Relief, Temporary Protected Status & Deferred Enforced Departure
AILA’s Associate Director of Government Relation Kate Voigt discusses H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, which would allow certain undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, commonly known as Dreamers, and immigrants with TPS to apply for permanent legal status.
Video Transcript
0:00:00.00–0:00:09.040
On march 12th, Representatives Roybal-Allard, Velazquez, and Clark
0:00:09.040–0:00:13.840
announced the introduction of H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act of 2019,
0:00:13.840–0:00:16.640
which would provide permanent protections for Dreamers
0:00:16.640–0:00:19.400
and Temporary Protected Status recipients.
0:00:19.400–0:00:22.720
Both Dreamers and TPS recipients are long-standing members of our
0:00:22.720–0:00:27.360
communities who have built lives, families, businesses, and careers in the US
0:00:27.360–0:00:30.280
and are vital contributors to our economy.
0:00:30.280–0:00:33.400
The American public overwhelmingly supports protecting Dreamers.
0:00:33.400–0:00:38.020
83% say they should be allowed to live and work in the United States.
0:00:38.020–0:00:42.100
Without TPS recipients, industries such as construction, food services,
0:00:42.100–0:00:45.460
and landscaping would experience disruptions that would have serious
0:00:45.460–0:00:48.560
ripple effects on state economies.
0:00:48.560–0:00:53.060
However dreamers and TPS recipients are currently at heightened risk of deportation
0:00:53.060–0:00:57.460
and separation from their families. While courts have temporarily enjoined
0:00:57.460–0:01:01.480
the rescission of DACA and termination of TPS for several countries,
0:01:01.480–0:01:03.820
these orders are not permanent.
0:01:03.820–0:01:07.760
Dreamers and TPS recipients are left in an untenable state of limbo,
0:01:07.760–0:01:11.460
never sure when their work authorization and protection from deportation
0:01:11.480–0:01:15.120
might be taken away in an instant by a higher court's ruling.
0:01:15.120–0:01:19.140
Moreover, the court orders do not cover everyone and the administration's harsh
0:01:19.140–0:01:23.920
enforcement tactics mean that everyone is a priority for deportation.
0:01:23.920–0:01:28.280
It is past time for Congress to protect Dreamers and TPS recipients.
0:01:28.280–0:01:30.300
That's why AILA is calling on Congress
0:01:30.300–0:01:34.620
to pass the Dream and Promise Act of 2019.