Dreamers, TPS holders join Members of Congress to advocate for new Dream and Promise Act

BOSTON – On March 12 on Capitol Hill, House leadership unveiled H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, which would provide permanent protection and a path to citizenship to Dreamers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

The bill marks a sea change in immigration policy debates in Washington: protecting immigrants without demanding impossible tradeoffs – billions for a border wall, harsher enforcement policies, cuts to family migration. If enacted, it would transform the lives of tens of thousands of immigrants in Massachusetts.

“The Dream and Promise Act is a breath of fresh air,” said MIRA Executive Director Eva A. Millona [see full statement]. “It sends a strong message to Dreamers and TPS and DED holders: We know this is your home. We know how much you contribute to this nation – and we stand behind you.”

MIRA has organized this event to highlight the urgency of Dreamers’ and TPS holders’ situation, and show that our Commonwealth stands united in its support for legislation that ensures that these immigrants, many of whom have lived here for 15–20 years, can finally get green cards.

Massachusetts is home to over 12,000 TPS holders, about 5,900 active DACA beneficiaries, another 13,000 Dreamers who were eligible for DACA but were not enrolled when the program was ended, as well as thousands of young immigrants who’ve arrived since June 2007, the cutoff for DACA eligibility.

“I arrived here when I was 16, graduated with honors from my high school, and am now in college, studying molecular biology,” said Ivan H., a freshman at Pine Manor College who will speak at Monday’s event. “Having the opportunity to have legal documentation would be like having the doors open of joys and blessings. If I have accomplished so much living in the shadows, imagine how much more I can accomplish living without fear of deportation, living as an American.”

José Palma, coordinator of the National TPS Alliance and co-founder of the Massachusetts TPS Committee, called the bill “a step in the right direction” and stressed the urgency of the crisis created by the termination of TPS, DACA, and DED. “We urge Congress to leave politics aside to avoid the separation of hundreds of thousands of additional families that have built their lives in this country. There is nothing temporary about our families’ lives. And no excuse to make millions more vulnerable to family separation. That should not be controversial for either side of the aisle.”

Note: We expect multiple Dreamers and TPS holders to be present at the event, in addition to those scheduled to speak. To ensure that we can quickly meet interview needs (including translation for some TPS holders), please let us know in advance if there’s a specific story or perspective you’d like us to connect you with.