A Congresswoman who represents the Houston area has introduced a bill that would provide a path toward citizenship for people in the United States under DACA, temporary protected status, and "deferred enforced departure." Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) introduced the bill with Maria Salazar (R-Florida) and says 200 members of the House have expressed support.
"Now is the time to double-down. Now is the time to make sure every Dreamer knows we're behind them, we love them, we know they contribute to this country, and they need to stay here," Garcia says.
The "American Dream and Promise Act" was also introduced in 2023, but the measure never advanced out of committee.
Garcia compares deporting a person brought to the United States as a child to giving a child a ticket for riding in a car with a speeding parent.
"They grew up in our neighborhoods, played with our children and pledged allegiance to the American flag," she says.
Since Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was established in 2012, supporters say "Dreamers" have paid $13 billion in taxes and contributed $16 billion to the Texas economy. A poll by the ACLU in 2021 showed 72% of voters would support a path to citizenship for people brought to the United States as kids.
"This is a vote that has overwhelming support from the American people," a DACA recipient who is now in college says. "The truth is communities across the country want to see their elected officials fighting for something."
President Donald Trump rescinded DACA in 2017, which had been started after an executive action by President Barack Obama in 2012. A lawsuit allowed the program to reopen.
In 2021, Texas and eight other states sued arguing DACA is unlawful. Last month, a federal appeals court ruled the state does have standing to challenge the order, stopping new DACA applications in Texas but allowing current recipients to renew their status as the case continues through court.
The decision of the Fifth Circuit did allow the federal government to list DACA recipients as "low priorities" for removal, and the case is still pending appeal.
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