CAPAC Chair Statement on Anniversary of Dream and Promise Act

Washington, D.C. – One year ago today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for over 2.5 million U.S. residents, including Dreamers – those eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. Since then, the Senate has not acted on this bill, leaving thousands in limbo. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement on the one year anniversary.  

“Right now, Dreamers are on the front line of our coronavirus response with thousands in essential and front line jobs, including over 27,000 who work in healthcare. They are risking their lives for ours. But because they were born somewhere else, this President and his Republican party are choosing to dangle the threat of deportation over their head in perpetuity. This is cruel, but that is by design. Donald Trump has staked his presidency on his war on immigrants. From bigoted speech to abusing children in prison camps to his continued toying with the fate of Dreamers and TPS recipients, his presidency has been marked by cruelty towards immigrants and all people of color.

“Among those living in uncertainty are over 130,000 Asian American Dreamers and 9,000 TPS recipients from Nepal who have deep roots in our communities and are American in every way except on paper.  They have grown up here, gone to school here, work here, and have roots here. They deserve the security of knowing they will not be torn from their families and lives and deported to a country they may have never known. The Dream and Promise Act is good for our communities, good for our economy, and has broad support. It’s time the Senate do the right thing and allow a vote on this bill.”

###