League Urges U.S. House to Pass Clean Dream Act

Members of the League's Lobby Corps will be visiting with members of the U.S. House urging passage of the Dream Act of 2017. The legislation will ensure that the 800,000 "dreamers"--young immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. by their parents--can establish legal residency within the country. The legislation contains provisions that ensure that the young immigrants are enrolled in school, serve in the military or maintain work history in addition to other requirements.

September 14, 2017

To:          Members of the U.S. House of Representatives

From:      Chris Carson, President 

Re:          Pass a Clean Dream Act

The U.S. House of Representatives should immediately pass a clean Dream Act which would provide protection for the approximately 800,000 young adults who were brought to this country as children. These young immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” have grown up here and deserve the opportunity to contribute to American society.

The Administration’s recent decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program does not serve the national interest. Thousands of the Dreamers protected by DACA were brought to this country as babies and have no memories of their birth countries. These individuals are paying taxes, contributing to Social Security and are Americans in everything but the name.

The bipartisan Dream Act will provide protections for young adults who have already registered with the federal government, participated in background checks, paid fees and have worked to obtain an education.

As a country of immigrants, we are made stronger by our diversity. Yet time and time again, this administration has discriminated against immigrants and communities of color. It is time for Congress to act to provide a path to citizenship or provisions for young undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. to earn legal status. Moving this policy forward will strengthen our nation and society.

The League believes that to become citizens, immigrants must learn about our system of government, understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and swear allegiance to the United States of America. These are basic steps to integration in American society, and it is in the interests of current citizens, immigrants and future generations that we build one nation. The Dream Act is critical to enabling immigrant youth to become fully productive members of American society.

The League of Women Voters is opposed to the deportation of non-criminal, undocumented immigrants and we urge Congress to pass the Dream Act without amendment, to protect, not turn away, the 800,000-young people who were brought to the United States as children.