STATEMENT: The Dream Act Is a Commonsense, Long-Overdue Measure

Washington D.C. — Today, the Dream Act was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). In response, Debu Gandhi, senior director of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

Americans deserve pragmatic solutions to fix solvable problems and strengthen our economy. Leaving millions of Dreamers in limbo for another generation is an unacceptable outcome for our national interest. The bipartisan Dream Act is a commonsense, long-overdue measure that will enable immigrants who have lived in the United States since they were children to contribute more fully to the country they call home. Polling has consistently showed that most Americans support a path to citizenship for Dreamers. Congress should reign in the Trump administration’s abuses of power in carrying out cruel and reckless immigration actions that are tearing communities apart and weakening our economy and pass meaningful legislation such as the Dream Act.  

Related resources: 

• “10th Annual DACA Survey: 2024 Findings Reveal What’s at Stake for Recipients and the United States” by Tom K. Wong, Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, Diana Pliego, Karen Fierro Ruiz, Silva Mathema, Ben Greenho, and Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer 
• “DACA Recipients Bolster Social Security and Medicare” by Trinh Q. Truong and Silva Mathema
• “Despite Barriers, DACA Entrepreneurs Contribute To Their Communities” by Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Trinh Q. Truong, and Silva Mathema
• “A New Immigration System to Safeguard America’s Security, Expand Economic Growth, and Make Us Stronger” by Neera Tanden and Debu Gandhi