“We applaud Sens. Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin for introducing the bipartisan Dream Act of 2019. Sens. Durbin and Graham have long been leaders in pursuing permanent legal protections for those outstanding young individuals known as Dreamers. This bill, like their earlier efforts, would allow Dreamers to earn lawful permanent residence in the United States and provide a pathway to citizenship in the only country they have ever known.
Brought here as children, Dreamers have overcome many barriers to contribute to our nation’s economy and security. They work and pay taxes, attend college, and serve in the military. But as we have repeatedly stressed, they have been forced into an unacceptable legal and political limbo following President Trump’s September 2017 decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The courts have kept DACA in place, but Congress has so far failed to act despite bipartisan and widespread support on Capitol Hill and across the country for protecting Dreamers.
We urge the Senate to swiftly advance this legislation and also applaud other efforts by Congress to safeguard the futures of these bright and talented individuals. We look forward to working with Sens. Graham and Durbin as this bill moves through the Senate. And we again remind all members of Congress: The time to act is not just now, it’s long past due.”