Democrats in the US House of Representatives used their majority status on Tuesday to pass a bill that contemplates a path to citizenship for more than 2.5 million immigrants who entered the country without authorization or with only temporary status.

The House voted 237-187 in favor of the DREAM and Promise Act of 2019, as seven Republicans joined the Democrats in supporting the measure. </s> The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 237 to 187 to pass the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, which provides a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as children, as well as to individuals who currently hold temporary protected status or who are subject to deferred enforced departure due to dangerous conditions in their home countries.

Higher education groups have lobbied in support of the act, which would provide protections to individuals whose status was thrown into uncertainty by the Trump administration’s efforts, currently halted by federal courts, to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program -- an Obama-era program that provides protection against deportation as well as work authorization for Dreamers -- and withdraw TPS protections for some groups. The Republican-led Senate is not expected to take up the bill. </s> Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester released a statement June 4 after the House passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act.

“I’ve had the privilege and honor of meeting with Dreamers, immigrants living with temporary protective status, and their families. I was moved by their stories, their dreams and their dedication to the only home many have ever known,” said Blunt Rochester. “I co-sponsored the American Dream and Promise Act because it represents the type of common-sense immigration reform Americans have long demanded from Congress. I proudly voted for this bill today to keep families together and help these men and women who seek only to be productive and contributing members of our country. The bill establishes a pathway to citizenship for those that exemplify the values that this country was founded on, contributing to our American society, economy and enriching the fabric of our communities. The Dreamers have demonstrated their commitment to strengthening our country, including serving in our nation’s military, and they deserve the opportunity and stability to carry out those goals. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to put aside our partisan differences and act by sending this landmark and long overdue legislation to the president’s desk.”

Blunt Rochester is a cosponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, which would put about 2.5 million Dreamers and immigrants eligible for temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure on a pathway to citizenship. Delaware is home to about 4,000 immigrants eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act. These individuals live with about 9,600 family members, including 1,900 U.S.-born children. Dreamers in Delaware arrived to the U.S. at the average age of 9. </s> FANM applauds Passage of the Dream and Promise Act in the House

The Dream Act and Promise Act will give permanent protections for recipients of TPS, DED, and those eligible for DACA

MIAMI – On Tuesday, June 4th, The U.S. House of Representatives voted for the passage of the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6). H.R. 6 which would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients.

Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM) issued the following statement:

“This bill is a great step toward finding a permanent solution for these deserving families. They will provide protection to the well-deserved and hardworking taxpayers. They will trailblaze a path to permanent residency for thousands of TPS, DACA and DED recipients. The Dream and Promise Act will give TPS and DACA recipients a safe haven in the U.S. where they have established their lives by contributing to our economy and our communities. Now FANM urges the Senate and the United States President to make this historic bill to become law. Our immigrant families deserve it”

FANM’s mission is to empower low to moderate income families socially, financially, and politically and to give them the tools to transform their communities. </s> WASHINGTON, June 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union applauds today's passage of the Dream and Promise Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Dream and Promise Act would provide a path to legal permanent residency and citizenship for Dreamers who came to the United States as children and for workers who came from countries covered by the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.

The legislation would allow union members to continue contributing to their communities, supporting their families and the U.S economy. The legislation would help provide a secure future for workers and a stable workforce in construction, food processing, transportation, hospitality and many other industries.

"We are a nation of immigrants and our nation has prospered thanks to immigrants. Members of our union follow the rules, work hard, pay taxes and strengthen our communities. They deserve stability and the Dream and Promise Act will provide that. We look forward to this legislation moving forward and becoming law," said Ron Herrera, International Vice President and Executive Director of the Teamsters National Hispanic Caucus.

"Immigrants make our country stronger and they make our union stronger. The Dream and Promise Act will bring long-time residents out of the shadows by creating permanent protections and a fair path to citizenship for Dreamers and TPS holders. The Teamsters know that standing up for workers means standing up for all workers. When companies exploit immigrants it drives down wages and working conditions for immigrants and non-immigrants alike," said George Miranda, International Vice President At Large and President of the Teamsters National Hispanic Caucus. "We commend the House of Representatives for passing this legislation. Our union will continue working until it is law and our immigrant members are protected."

"It's good news to hear that the House passed the Dream and Promise Act. A few months ago, I came to D.C. to share my story as a truck driver and TPS holder with our representatives. We make so many contributions to our communities and economy. We need solutions, and we hope the Senate moves on this soon," said Cesar Rodriguez, an XPO driver and TPS recipient.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. </s> The House voted on House Resolution 6 Tuesday afternoon. This is the American Dream and Promise Act.

Representative Kevin Hern was not present for the vote because he traveled back to Oklahoma to join Vice President Mike Pence touring flood damage. Hern said he does not want to make a habit out of missing votes, but the crisis in the First District that he serves and the arrival of Vice President Mike Pence took precedent.

In a statement. Representative Hern said he would have voted no on House Resolution 6 if he could have been in attendance. Hern further stated that there are great dangers involved in granting amnesty to millions of people living in America illegally, including known criminals. He said he will never support those who violate the law at the expense of those who follow them.

Most importantly, Representative Hern said, this bill does nothing to address the humanitarian crisis at the border with Mexico. Instead, he said it ignores the problem of illegal immigration and will result in increased apprehensions along the border and greater danger to both those crossing illegally and our border security working to protect our citizens.

The House passed the American Dream and Promise Act on Tuesday on a 237 to 187 vote. </s> The House passed a vote Tuesday that would grant protection from deportation to illegal immigrants and give millions a path to permanent citizenship status.

The American Dream and Promise Act passed the House with a vote of 236-187. The legislation was brought forward by California Democratic Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard and will provide permanent status to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as minors, as well as to those living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status, Newsweek reported.

This all comes as apprehensions of immigrants have increased every month since January. There have also been over 100,000 encounters at the southern border in both March and April, making it so the border crisis is on track to be the highest it has been in a decade.

The legislation would make it so 2.1 million immigrants “would be eligible under the measures for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.”

The House Judiciary Committee criticized Democrats for pushing the bill forward, listing a number of reasons why amnesty should not be granted to illegal immigrants.



 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently said the “tide is turning” against President Trump. Alex explains this is yet another attempt to push a false narrative about his support in order to get the ball rolling on the impeachment of the President. </s> On Tuesday, the Democratic-led House of Representatives is expected to pass legislation seeking to provide permanent protections and offer a pathway to citizenship for more than two million immigrants who had their lives "thrown into limbo" by the Trump administration, immigration advocates say.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, which was spearheaded by Democratic Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard of California, seeks to provide permanent status not only to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as minors, known as Dreamers, but also to those living in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs.

TPS is a temporary status allowing nationals who are unable to safely return to their home countries due to armed conflict, natural disaster or other extraordinary and temporary conditions to remain in the U.S. until it is safe to return.

DED does not extend a specific immigration status to beneficiaries, but it currently allows some 4,000 Liberian nationals displaced by conflict and the Ebola crisis to live in the U.S. without fear of removal, at least until their protections run out.

Under President Donald Trump, both programs face uncertain futures, with the U.S. leader's administration seeking to end protections for hundreds of thousands of TPS beneficiaries, while also ordering a "wind-down" of the DED program slated to begin as of March 30, 2020.

That is why, immigration advocates say, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, or H.R.6, could not come at a better time, offering a potential pathway to citizenship for as many as 2.5 million Dreamers, TPS holders and DED beneficiaries, according to estimates from the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Study of Immigration Integration.

As many as 2.1 million immigrants "would be eligible under the measures for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children," CAP said in a press release on Monday. Those numbers would include as many as 673,000 recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the Trump administration has sought to bring to an end. As many as "460,000 immigrants would be eligible under the measures for TPS and DED recipients," CAP said.

"Dreamers and TPS or DED holders are immigrants who have lived much of their lives in the United States," the organization noted. "The average TPS recipient has lived here for 22 years, the vast majority of that time in lawful status, while the average Dreamer potentially eligible for protection under the bill came to the United States at age 8," CAP said, noting that "given their long-term resident in the United States, many of these immigrants have families here."

In a separate press release, immigration advocacy group United We Dream called on congress members to pass the American Dream and Promise Act and provide permanent protections for "families and communities" that have "had their lives thrown into limbo due to the cruel actions of the Trump administration."

"The Dream and Promise Act recognizes the urgent need to provide permanent protections without using this group as bargaining chips to grow the Deportation Force," United We Dream said.

The organization said its members would be gathering on Capitol Hill to support the legislation, along with immigrant youth, TPS and DED recipients who would benefit from its protections.

"While on Capitol Hill, they will remind the new Democratic majority to reject any anti-immigrant additions to the bill that would racially profile and criminalize immigrants and people of color or continue to build up the Deportation Force," United We Dream said.

In addition to providing protections and a pathway to citizenship for millions of people, H.R.6 also seeks to repeal a restriction that bars states from providing higher education benefits to undocumented immigrants unless those benefits are available to all U.S. citizens.

The bill is expected to pass the Democratic-led House, but is likely to face difficulties in the Republican-controlled Senate, which rejected similar immigration proposals last year. </s> Washington — With a handful of Republican votes, House Democrats passed the latest version of the DREAM Act, an ambitious expansion of a nearly two-decades-long legislative effort that would place millions of young undocumented immigrants and immigrants with temporary status on a pathway to U.S. citizenship.

The Democratic-led chamber approved the sweeping immigration bill, dubbed the DREAM and Promise Act of 2019, by a vote of 237 to 187, sending the legislation to the Republican-controlled Senate, which is unlikely to consider it. The White House has also issued a veto threat against the measure.

Seven Republicans in the House joined 230 Democrats in voting for the bill. No Democrats voted against the measure.

The proposal would grant young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, including those shielded from deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an opportunity to acquire permanent lawful status if they meet certain requirements. The bill would also allow hundreds of thousands of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients — as well as Liberian immigrants covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) — to gain permanent residency.

“There hasn’t been a vote on a bill like this since 2010, so it is a big deal,” Bruna Bouhid, a 27-year-old DACA recipient told CBS News, referring to the last time a chamber in Congress passed a version of the DREAM Act, which was first introduced in 2001. “Our communities have been fighting for this for a really long time.”

Bouhid, who came to the U.S. from Brazil when she was 7, said the bill’s passage sends a clear message to Congress that immigrants, including those like her who could face deportation if their protections end, will only support proposals to legalize their status if they do not include more funding for immigration enforcement agencies, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“You have an administration that proactively killed DACA, TPS and DED to put these communities at risk of deportation. They’ve been hellbent on using ICE and CBP to go after our communities,” she added.

Despite the bill’s bleak prospects in the Senate, House Democrats believe the passage of one of their signature legislative issues will convey to the electorate that they continue using their majority to push through legislation, even during a tense standoff with the White House and increasing talk of a possible impeachment inquiry against President Trump.

“This is a day that glorifies what America is to the world. A place of refuge, a place of safety, a place of opportunity,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said at a press conference before the vote, citing a speech in which Republican President Ronald Reagan said the U.S. is a “better nation” because of immigrants.

“We will send it to the Senate and then we’ll keep on keeping on until it is the law of the land,” Hoyer added.

The legislation — spearheaded by Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Nydia Velázquez and Yvette Clarke — would grant DACA recipients and other young undocumented immigrants conditional U.S. permanent residency for 10 years if they meet certain criteria. To be eligible, immigrants must have been younger than 18 when they came to the U.S., and must have lived in the U.S. continuously over the previous four years. They must also have an American high school diploma or GED and pass a background check. Those who have committed serious crimes would be ineligible.

To be placed on a pathway to citizenship under the bill, these young immigrants must earn a college degree or complete two years of a degree program in an institution of higher education or technical school. They would also qualify if they served honorably in the military or have been employed in the U.S. for more than three years.

The proposal would also grant this group of young undocumented immigrant access to federal financial aid for college.

DED and TPS recipients, meanwhile, would be able to obtain permanent residency if they have resided in the U.S. for more than three years before the proposed legislation is enacted and if they do not have any felony convictions or more than one misdemeanor.

The bill would also make it more difficult for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end TPS designations for countries, as the Trump administration has sought to do. Since the president was sworn in, his administration tried to terminate TPS protections for more than 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Sudan, Nepal and Nicaragua. The administration’s efforts, however, have been hampered by court rulings.

Since the fall of 2017, the White House has also tried to dismantle the DACA program, instituted by President Obama in 2012 through executive action. Four circuit courts, however, have blocked the government from completely dismantling the program, and the Supreme Court this week denied a Justice Department request to fast-track the high court’s consideration of the legal battle surrounding DACA.

The government currently allows more than 700,000 DACA recipients, commonly referred to as DREAMers, to renew their protections for a period of two years.
The United States House of Representatives passes the American Dream and Promise Act (HR 6), which offers a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.