For Immediate Release: April 9, 2019
Contact: Michael Earls at 202-494-8555 and [email protected]
TheDream.US on House and Senate Bills: “The Right Time for DREAMers is Now”
Washington, DC – TheDream.US today issued the following statement of support for both the bipartisan Senate bill, “Dream Act of 2019,” introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), as well as the House bill HR-6, “The Dream and Promise Act of 2019.” The following is a statement from Gaby Pacheco, Director of Advocacy, Development, and Communications at TheDream.US:
“TheDream.US strongly supports both the House and Senate legislative visions to replace DREAMers’ current uncertainty and anxiety with a permanent solution. All young people, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, gain an education, and fully participate in the country that they call home. Fully realizing this vision will require that elected officials of both parties recognize that what’s good for DREAMers is essential for America’s future dynamism, prosperity, and success.
Of course, a resolution for DREAMers is long overdue – it’s been 18 years since the bipartisan duo of Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Dick Durbin first came together to try and deliver legislative relief for DREAMers. But the failures of lawmakers until now does not change the overwhelming truths that DREAMers need Congress to deliver a responsible solution and that such a resolution will benefit the entire country.
Since we launched TheDream.US in 2013, we have seen first-hand 4,000 examples of DREAMers’ resilience, courage, potential, and commitment – to themselves, their families, and our nation. Initially, we thought our organization would help fill a short-term void to support the higher education needs of DACA and TPS students until Congress delivered a permanent legislative solution and access to federal higher education grants and assistance in the process.
Unfortunately, DREAMers remain in limbo, having to plan their lives in increments and facing continued anxiety about their futures and opportunities. Yet despite the uncertainty of their own lives and futures and the precarious state of DACA and TPS, we can attest that DREAMers remain steadfastly committed to completing their college education and contributing to their campuses and communities.
In principle, most elected officials would like to pass legislation to support the DREAMers. But it never seems to be the “right time.” We cannot let this failure penalize these deserving young people. The “right time” for DREAMers is now.”
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 4,000 scholarships to students with DACA and TPS at more than 75 partner colleges in 15 states and Washington, DC.
- Read a copy of TheDream.US report In Their Own Words, summarizing the responses and implications from a national survey of 1,400 TheDream.US Scholars. Available in full online here
- Read through TheDream.US Scholar story-bank, featuring powerful personal reflections from Scholars about their lives, journeys, and future goals here
###