The following statement is attributed to Kate Tummarello, Executive Director of Engine, regarding today’s House vote on the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021:
Statement:
“Today’s House vote in support of the American Dream and Promise Act is a victory for the millions of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children in search of a better life. Dreamers help drive U.S. innovation by launching startups, creating new jobs, and serving as critical sources of talent for the tech sector. By protecting Dreamers and providing them with a pathway to citizenship, the bill gives these talented individuals the legal certainty they need to pursue their ambitions—in the tech sector or otherwise—without the threat of deportation.”
Background:
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) earlier this month, would provide Dreamers—undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children—with protections from deportation and a pathway to citizenship if they meet certain requirements. Dreamers make significant contributions to the U.S. economy, with reports finding that they launch new ventures at rates that exceed those of natural-born U.S. citizens. The bill would make as many as 2.3 million Dreamers eligible for permanent legal residence, including approximately 644,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. While the Supreme Court last year rejected the previous administration’s rollback of the DACA program—allowing Dreamers who received protections from deportation under the 2012 program to remain in the U.S.—Congress must now formalize this policy in order to ensure that these law-abiding young people have a chance to fully achieve the American dream.
