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Dream Act of 2023

Dream Act of 2023

Soledad Quartucci

Dream Act of 2023. Durbin, Graham Introduce the Dream Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Dream Act of 2023, which would allow noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain education or work requirements to earn lawful permanent residence. “Durbin and Graham have introduced identical legislation in the last three sessions of Congress,” reports the Committee on the Judiciary.

These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status.  However, under current law there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential.

Durbin said, “I first introduced the Dream Act more than 20 years ago, and I’ll continue fighting until it becomes the law of the land.  This is a matter of simple American fairness and justice.  I thank Senator Graham for his continued partnership in this important bipartisan effort.”

The Dream Act of 2023 would allow these young people to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they:

 

    • Came to the U.S. as children and are without lawful status;
    • Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;
    • Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;
    • Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;
    • Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and
    • Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.

 

 

The Road to Approval

To be approved in the Upper House, the bill needs 60 votes and then be sent to the House of Representatives where 218 supports are needed. The initiative grants dreamers a permanent legal status (green card) and, eventually, five years after receiving it, they would qualify to apply for citizenship by naturalization, details Univision.

Two senators, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, introduced a bill last Friday that includes legal permanent residency for Dreamers, a debate that has spanned more than two decades in Congress.

The plan, sponsored by lawmakers Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), marks the start of a new push in the current Congress that took office on January 3. This is the first effort to be carried out in a bipartisan manner since Joe Biden’s speech to Congress on Tuesday, where the president called on both parties to work together over the next two years.

To be approved, the plan requires 60 votes in the Upper House. Then, it must be sent to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where it needs 218 votes.

The Dream Act

Reflecting on the 10 Year Anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood’s Arrival Program, DACA, Senator Alex Padilla, spoke during a Hearing on Higher Education and Immigration Last June:
“The hearing couldn’t come at a more timely moment,” announced Padilla, “Tomorrow marks the anniversary of DACA, a program that has helped hundreds of thousands of recipients pursue their dreams, their American dreams while contributing to their communities and strengthening our economy. From day 1, DACA was never intended as a permanent solution and has left hundreds of thousands of young people and their families in limbo. We urgently need to expand DACA and expertly codify protections for Dreamers into Federal Law,” affirmed the Senator.Padilla highlighted the nation is undergoing a labor shortage, “We simply do not have the workforce needed to meet the demands of our growing economy. And that demand will continue to grow in the coming decades.” The hearing drew the connection between labor shortages in the U.S. and the need to build protections for DACA. “When promising students are pushed into the shadows, we all lose,” said Padilla, “Congress must pass a legislative solution for Dreamers so more students can earn their degrees and join our workforce. Our economy needs the passion and talents of immigrant youth. That’s why immigration reform in higher education is a bipartisan issue and a top priority for America’s business community.”Senator Padilla called DACA, “a vital program that has enabled many of these young people to study, to work and to make their lives here in the U.S.”  Padilla explained that despite the fragile protections, DACA students still face roadblocks and uncertainty based on their immigration status:

“They live in constant fear of DACA ending. Because of congressional inaction and enormous legal challenges to DACA, the majority of todays’ undocumented high school graduates can’t even benefit from DACA’s protections. That means no authorization to hold a job or a chance to get a drivers license. It means potentially being shut out of college or being ineligible for financial aid.”

Dream Act of 2023

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced the Dream Act of 2023 (S. 365) in the Senate on February 9, 2023. This bipartisan bill would provide Dreamers – young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives – with protection from deportation and an opportunity to obtain legal status if they meet certain requirements.

The Dream Act of 2023 would allow approximately 1.9 million eligible Dreamers brought to America as children, including the roughly 600,000 current DACA recipients, to receive permanent protections to live and work in the U.S.

The Dream Act of 2023 would create a conditional permanent resident status valid for up to eight years for Dreamers that would protect them from deportation, allow them to work legally in the U.S. and permit them to travel outside the country.

“The re-introduction of The Dream Act after 22 years shows that it’s beyond time for Congress to finally act on solutions,” stated United We Dream. “It’s Time For Congress Act To Pass Policies That Help People Without Hurting People.”

 

Dr. Soledad Quartucci | Founder

Latina Republic is a reporting, research, and advocacy nonprofit organization advancing human rights in the Americas. Latina Republic fills the void in coverage of urgent social, political, environmental, economic and gender inequities affecting the Americas. Latina Republic’s mission is to inspire humane policies that fortify relations between the U.S. and Latin America. Our work is guided by peaceful international relations focused on solidarity. We believe asylum and seeking refuge is a human right. Our work envisions a world where neighboring countries are seen as partners, and immigrants and refugees don’t have to live in the shadows. Our goal is to advance peaceful dialogue by highlighting local perspectives that don’t make it into the mainstream news. Our vision is that this knowledge will assist all stakeholders in solving regional problems while strengthening ties.