House Passage of the Dream and Promise Act Represents Historic Step to Protect Dreamers and TPS & DED Holders

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HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE DREAM AND PROMISE ACT REPRESENTS HISTORIC STEP TO PROTECT DREAMERS AND TPS & DED HOLDERS
Presidents’ Alliance Calls on Senate to Pass Legislation on a Bipartisan Basis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2019

CONTACT: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsimmigrationalliance.org)

Washington, D.C.—Today, in a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dream and Promise Act of 2019, H.R. 6, which would provide a roadmap to citizenship for 2.5 million Dreamers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) & Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. Additionally, the Dream and Promise Act contains critical higher education provisions, including access to federal financial aid for beneficiaries. The Presidents’ Alliance urges the Senate to move forward on a bipartisan basis and pass similar legislation protecting these populations.

Miriam Feldblum, the Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance states, “Passage of the Dream and Promise Act represents the first time either chamber of Congress passed legislation providing relief to Dreamers since the Dream Act of 2010, and the inaugural effort to enshrine permanent protections for long-time residents who hold TPS and DED. We now urge the Senate to move forward on a bipartisan basis and pass similar legislation protecting these populations.”

Members of the Presidents’ Alliance Steering Committee responded to today’s vote:

“House passage of the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 is critical, particularly in California where there are 645,000 immigrant youth and TPS & DED holders who would benefit under the bill. California and the California State University have consistently supported Dreamers through state legislation and campus policies that recognize the importance of utilizing higher education to invest in these immigrant scholars and students. Federal legislation, however, is essential to provide the permanent relief needed for these individuals to fully utilize their education, participate in the workforce, and become Americans in every sense of the word.”

– Timothy White, Chancellor of the California State University System and Steering Committee Member, Presidents’ Alliance

 

“By working closely with Dreamers on my campus I have consistently witnessed the resilience of these individuals and their commitment to integrating and being a permanent part of our nation. The Dream and Promise Act’s higher education provisions, which would invest in students through federal financial assistance, are absolutely critical to fulfill our nation’s promise to these students. The passage of this bill—shaped by the very people it is meant to assist—is the first step in Congress enacting bipartisan and permanent relief for these populations.”

– Elsa M. Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University and Steering Committee Member, Presidents’ Alliance

 

In Florida, 218,000 individuals would benefit from the Dream and Promise Act, including over 75,000 TPS and DED holders. For these latter populations, the Dream and Promise Act represents a down payment on the ability of these individuals to transition into a permanent status after, for some, decades of uncertainty and legal limbo. In Florida alone, there are over 37,000 U.S. citizen children with TPS family who would benefit from the protections for their mixed status family. TPS and DED holders also represent students, staff, and faculty on Florida campuses and are integral part of Florida and the nation’s workforce. Passage of this bill represents a resounding welcome from the American people to fully integrate these individuals into the fabric of our nation.”

– Eduardo Padrón, President, Miami Dade College and Steering Committee Member, Presidents’ Alliance

 

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The non-partisan Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings together college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities, and supporting policies that create a welcoming environment for undocumented, immigrant, and international students. The Alliance is comprised of over 430 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over four million students in 41 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.