Sarbanes Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Dreamers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today co-sponsored and introduced the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), a bill to create a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders.

"Dreamers, DED holders and TPS recipients have come to this country through no fault of their own," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Day in and day out, they make meaningful and measurable contributions to communities in Maryland and across the country. We must ensure that their status in America remains assured and secure."

The Dream and Promise Act comes after a 2017 decision by the Trump Administration to eliminate crucial protections for Dreamers by rescinding the DACA program. The bill also responds to Trump Administration decisions in 2017 and 2018 to end Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants.

The bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers who entered the United States when they were under the age of 18 and who have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least 4 years. Eligible individuals would receive conditional permanent resident status and would need to fulfill an education, employment, or military track to secure permanent resident status. The Dream and Promise Act would also ensure permanent residency for TPS recipients and DED holders. The average TPS recipient has lived in the United States for 20 years. DED holders have lived in the U.S. since 2007. Both TPS recipients and DED holders came to the U.S. after feeling violence, persecution or natural disasters in their home countries.

For more information about the Dream and Promise Act, see here.

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