CHC Chair Statement on Anniversary of DACA & Reintroduction of Dream & Promise Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CHC Communications | Brian Garcia | brian.garcia3@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Nanette Barragán issued a statement on the anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the reintroduction of the American Dream and Promise Act.
“Eleven years ago, President Obama announced the historic DACA program to protect young people from deportation who were brought to America at an early age,” said Chair Barragán. “Dreamers were on average 6 years old when they immigrated to the United States. DACA gave them the opportunity to live here, attain an education, and it empowered them to become productive community members. DACA recipients are now teachers, doctors, lawyers, first-responders, business owners, and talented workers across the workforce. Their contributions make our neighborhoods better, and their presence strengthens America’s vibrant diversity.”
“While DACA has benefited more than 800,000 Dreamers, it’s faced targeted attacks by right-wing politicians who seek to dismantle the program,” added Chair Barragán. “These political tactics have caused uncertainty for Dreamers and their families. America’s Dreamers deserve a pathway to citizenship and the stability that this would bring. The American Dream and Promise Act, which was endorsed by the CHC and reintroduced in the House yesterday by Representatives Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09), would establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders (TPS), and Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) recipients. I’m proud of my colleagues for leading this fight, and the CHC is forever grateful to our former colleague, Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, for being a champion for Dreamers in Congress and serving as an original co-author of the 2001 Dream Act and co-author of this legislation until her retirement in 2022.”
“The CHC will always protect Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED recipients from partisan schemes because America is their home.”
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