On March 12, 2019, H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act of 2019, was introduced in the House of Representatives, with 202 original co-sponsors, including Maine’s Representative Chellie Pingree.
H.R. 6 would provide a path to permanent residency for the over 1 million immigrants who have legal status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs who are on the cusp of losing their status, but for court decisions blocking the administration’s termination of DACA and of TPS for El Salvadorans, Haitians, Hondurans, Nepalese, Nicaraguans, and Sudanese.
H.R. 6 would also provide a path to residency for immigrant youth who have been unable to apply for DACA since the program was terminated, and benefit similarly situated persons who have long lived legally in the U.S. and put down roots here, but who lack a path to full permanent status under current law. Gaining a path to permanent residency would enable them to continue studying, working, serving in the U.S. military, and contributing to their communities.
This bill would not only benefit the eligible individuals, but also the U.S. economy. This is why business leaders, including CEOs of leading national corporations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have urged Congress to act to provide a path to permanent residency for those with DACA and TPS. Polls have shown strong majorities of the general public also support providing DACA and TPS holders with permanent status.
Both of Maine’s Senators worked last year with a bipartisan coalition to provide a path to permanent residency for those with DACA, and TPS holders contribute similarly to our communities and workforce. Ultimately, without the administration’s buy-in, the plan was not enacted. Hopefully the entire Maine delegation will try to get the Dream and Promise Act over the finish line in 2019.
You can find a summary of what the bill includes here.