The House of Representatives June 4 passed,237-187, the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6).
The bill combines the Dream Act of 2019 (H.R. 2820), which provides a pathway to citizenship for certain immigrant youth who arrived to the United States before age 18 including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, and the American Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 2821), which includes provisions related to Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure [see Washington Highlights, March 24].
The AAMC joined the higher education community in submitting a June 3 letter to House leadership in support of the Dream and Promise Act of 2019. The letter notes the legislation would allow “undocumented young people, high-achieving individuals who contribute to our nation’s economy and security, to earn lawful permanent residence in the United States and a path to citizenship.”
The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have introduced the Dream Act of 2019 (S.874), bipartisan legislation to establish a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and others. The AAMC previously joined the higher education community in submitting a letter to Senate leadership in support of the bill [see Washington Highlights, April 5].
Written by:
Denisse Rojas Marquez
Government Relations Health Policy Fellow