Washington, D.C. – Lawmakers have introduced HR 6 – the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 – a bill that would provide a humane and sensible path to legalization for immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and currently have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, (DACA), as well as those granted Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) and Temporary Protected Status, (TPS) because of civil war or natural disasters in their home countries.
Please attribute the following statement in support of HR 6 to Andrea Senteno, Washington, D.C. regional counsel at MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):
“This administration took the odious steps to end protections for DACA holders, TPS holders, and those with DED as part of its explicit agenda to target immigrants, members of the Latino community, and others it views as outsiders. This legislation is a strong corrective first step.
“MALDEF calls on Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and to provide meaningful protection and stability for these longtime residents, which will benefit families, schools, workplaces, communities and the American public. This administration has decided to govern by crisis and temper tantrum in order to obtain funding for a xenophobic border wall; ramp up enforcement and detention of immigrant communities, including tearing apart families seeking asylum; and institute massive restrictions to opportunities to immigrate to this country. The Latino community expects Congress to govern in accordance with its constitutional responsibility, sound policy, and common sense, and to pass this legislation.”