We want solutions for Dreamers now! ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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No Dreams DeferredGreetings,
Last week, ahead of the 12-year Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) anniversary, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the first hearing on DACA since 2021, titled "**Dream Deferred: The Urgent Need to Protect Immigrant Youth** ." The hearing aimed to demonstrate the contributions of Dreamers to the United States, while calling on Republicans and Democrats to work together to provide permanent protections.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) opened the hearing by focusing on how DACA recipients have been able to pursue higher education, start businesses, buy homes, and raise families in the United States. However, with their status in legal limbo, there is a high degree of uncertainty that persists. In contrast, Ranking Member Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said passing legislation related to Dreamers "is not my concern right now." He and several other Republican lawmakers emphasized a focus on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border before providing solutions to Dreamers. Both Senators Durbin and Graham co-sponsored the DREAM Act , which would protect Dreamers from deportation and provide an opportunity to obtain legal status if they meet certain requirements. While the legislation has bipartisan support it has not advanced beyond an introduction.
Throughout the hearing Senators heard compelling personal stories from witnesses such as Officer Mitchell Soto-Rodriguez , the first DACA recipient to become a police officer in Illinois. She recounted how the uncertainty of her status shaped her path to becoming a law enforcement officer. Before 2023, DACA recipients were ineligible to work as police officers. Officer Soto-Rodriguez worked with Blue Island Police Chief Geoffery Farr and the local government to change the rules at the local level and eventually at the state level too. She reminded Senators that "behind each statistic is a Dreamer with hopes, dreams, and aspirations... asking for recognition of our humanity and our contributions to this nation."
In a statement , Chairman Durbin reminded colleagues that Dreamers are "American in every way - except under the law." ??Leaders around the country, from national security to faith sectors, stated the importance of Dreamers in our country and the need for a pathway towards citizenship. Further, polling overwhelmingly shows that both Republicans and Democrats want solutions for Dreamers , yet Congress has still not passed legislation, further perpetuating uncertainty for 3.6 million Dreamers .
While this hearing provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the importance of creating solutions for Dreamers, it also demonstrated that there is still more work to be done. Dreamers were brought to the United States as children and have grown, made friends, and built communities in the United States. Many know America as their only home. It is time to provide Dreamers with the certainty they deserve. Please join us in urging Congress to enact a permanent solution for Dreamers .
Stay healthy and hopeful,
Andrea
**Andrea Corro**
Field and Constituencies Coordinator
National Immigration Forum??
**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**
**NBC NEWS:**Dreamers urge protections in Senate hearing on immigrant youth
**BORDER REPORT:**2024 will be the 'immigration election'
**AP:**The Biden administration is planning more changes to quicken asylum processing for new migrants
**REUTERS:**Migration at US Southern Border Slumps on Regional Efforts
**CBS NEWS:**U.S. announces new rule to empower asylum officials to reject more migrants earlier in process
**THE HILL:**Anxiety grows among Democrats over Biden border issues
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