TheDream.US and Presidents’ Alliance React to News of Senate Failure to Enact Bipartisan Immigration Bill

TheDream.US and Presidents’ Alliance React to News of Senate Failure to Enact Bipartisan Immigration Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2022
CONTACT: Diego Sánchez (diego@presidentsalliance.org)

The following is a joint statement from Gaby Pacheco, Director of Advocacy, Communications, and Development of TheDream.US and Diego Sánchez, Director of Policy and Strategy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Both are longtime advocates and former DACA recipients.

“Despite the stakes and the opportunity at hand, it appears that Congress will not enact a permanent and bipartisan solution for Dreamers this year modeled after the Tillis-Sinema framework. 

While we share in the related pain, frustration and disappointment felt by many, we remain deeply appreciative of the courage and commitment put forth by so many Dreamers, higher ed leaders, and other allies in recent weeks. We have been proud to stand alongside you and know that our advocacy on behalf of Dreamers will continue, including ways to support Dreamers with and without DACA on our campuses in light of the latest disappointing news. We also are grateful to Senators Tillis and Sinema for leading this effort and to the many other Democratic and Republican Senators who supported their work.

The failure of Congress does not diminish the urgent need to resolve Dreamers’ uncertainty. The circumstances remain dire for Dreamers and for higher education institutions and workplaces and communities who rely on them. We remain steadfast in our calls to action on their behalf, and we call on policymakers across the political parties to continue working toward a solution that our country so desperately needs.”

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The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities, and nation. We work to advance just, forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus levels that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 550 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant students, having provided more than 8,750 college scholarships to Dreamers attending over 80 partner colleges in 21 states and Washington, DC. We believe everyone, regardless of where they were born, should have equitable access to a college education, a meaningful career, and opportunities to contribute to the communities they call home. For more information on TheDream.US, visit www.thedream.us