Action #1: It’s been two years. Let’s get it done!
UPDATE: H.R. 6 JUST PASSED THE HOUSE ON 3/18! CAll and EMAIL scripts have been adjusted for senators.
We first published this post on March 14, 2019, almost exactly two years ago. Since then, the public’s support for Dreamers has continued to grow. Nancy Pelosi stated in 2020 – “Eighty percent of the American people support our Dreamers.” The Pew Research Center puts it at 3 out of 4. Let’s get this done.
H.R. 6 provides permanent protection and a path to citizenship to a possible 4,438,000 DREAMers, individuals eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and legal DREAMers eligible for permanent residence. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, this version’s author, states: “This legislation would enable millions of undocumented young people to fulfill their God-given potential, give back to their communities, and ultimately obtain U.S. citizenship. It would also serve our national interest by reducing the deficit, contributing to our country’s economic growth, and enabling our armed services to meet their recruiting goals. I have introduced the newest version of this bill as HR 6, The Dream and Promise Act, which includes protections and a path to citizenship not just for Dreamers, but for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries as well.”
However, it can be made even better. Nicole Austin-Hillery, executive director of the US Program at Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated “… the bill contains harsh and unnecessary provisions based on youth offenses that would amplify the racial injustices in the criminal legal system and make the bill less inclusive…” Their coalition sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging them to remove these criminalization bars. Said Austin-Hillery: “Congress should be focused on ensuring all immigrant youth who have only known the United States as home no longer have to live in fear of an uncertain future. The juvenile justice system recognizes that young people are different than adults and treats them as such. We urge Congress to do the same.” [Resources: (HRW/NJJ&DPC/Sentencing Project/& more letter) (HRW/Indivisible/& more letter)(National Immigration Project report lists criminalization bars)(Description of immigration legislation bills here]
Minimal script – call: I’m calling from [zip code] to ask Sen. [___] to support H.R. 6 – The “American Dream and Promise Act of 2021.” I’m also asking that in the interests of racial justice, [he/she] eliminate criminalization bars and other barriers to relief from this legislation, as they are counter to the purpose of the Dream and Promise Act, which is to protect ALL immigrant youth from deportation.
Continue reading “Tell your senators to cosponsor H.R. 6 – The “American Dream and Promise Act.””
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 