SOUTHERN BORDER —  Today, House Democrats took a bold step to protect millions of young immigrants and others with temporary protections by offering them a path to citizenship —  all without further militarizing the southern border region.

The Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Reps. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), would grant Dreamers who meet certain criteria conditional permanent resident status for 10 years. The bill also provides permanent protections to people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), who are in danger of losing their protection from deportation.

The bill would protect these immigrants as well as Dreamers — 1 in 5 of whom live in the southern border region — without using them as bargaining chips for more walls, border agents and detention beds, as Trump as tried to do in the past.

Vicki B. Gaubeca, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, issued the following statement:

“We are thrilled at the introduction of the Dream and Promise Act, and thank Representatives Roybal-Allard, Clarke and Velazquez for pushing this bill forward. At a time when the current administration is ravaging our hallowed institutions in a despotic power grab to further militarize the southern border region and turn the Department of Homeland Security into a national police force, it is critical that Congress fights to protect our democracy, and uphold our national values of hope, dignity, and opportunity. The Dream and Promise Act presents real solutions for Dreamers — 1 in 5 of whom live in southern border states — and their families. We urge Congress to support the Dream and Promise Act, and to continue to advance policies that improve the quality of life for everyone in our country.”

Itzel Guillen, Border Dreamer and Immigrant Integration Manager at Alliance San Diego, a member of SBCC, issued the following statement:

“The Dream and Promise Act is a critical piece of legislation, precisely because it creates a path to citizenship for Dreamers, without using our parents and loved ones — or any other vulnerable group — as bargaining chips for wasteful and unnecessary border enforcement. Border dreamers like myself are integral members of our communities, and need a no-strings-attached path to citizenship to continue to contribute fully to the economic and social fabric of the United States. We urge Congress to enact the Dream and Promise Act, and to give immigrants and Border Dreamers and their families the opportunity to thrive.”

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER COMMUNITIES COALITION

The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) brings together organizations from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas, to ensure that border enforcement policies and practices are accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region.

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