ACLU Comment on Introduction of Bills to Give DREAMers Legal Status

WASHINGTON — Two bills were introduced in the House of Representatives this week that would provide legal status to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. The bills are the DREAM Act and the American Hope Act of 2017.

Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy and campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union, had the following reaction:

“We need to fight for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and enact legislation that makes these protections the rule of law. Now, both the House and the Senate have introduced bipartisan legislation to give young undocumented immigrants their long earned security, stability, and permanence in this country.

“For the almost 800,000 young people who rely on DACA, the United States is home. Dreamers have given back to our country in innumerable ways: they are our doctors, soldiers, and students — our neighbors, family, and friends.

“DACA is a constitutional program that is successful and popular on both sides of the aisle. It has enriched and touched communities and lives all across the country. In the face of an anti-immigrant agenda, Congress and President Trump have the opportunity to make the right decision and prove they are not playing politics with people’s lives. We encourage them to keep DACA in place and pass legislation that will give Dreamers the legal status that they deserve.”