PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release  
Contact: Dan Gordon, 617-651-0841  
June 10, 2024    

New Survey: Americans Want a Legislative Solution for Dreamers  

  Washington, D.C. — Ahead of the 12th anniversary of the announcement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Saturday, a substantial majority of Americans supports legislation that would offer legal pathways for Dreamers.  

Among respondents to a new survey from the National Immigration Forum in conjunction with The Bullfinch Group, 68% of registered voters supported Republicans and Democrats working together on legislation that would enable Dreamers to earn legal status and eventual citizenship. Support for these solutions extended across party lines, with Republicans supporting such legislation by a 25-point margin. 

The future of DACA remains in question, with legal challenges blocking new applications from young Dreamers and potentially ending the protection entirely.  This reality is creating uncertainty not just for Dreamers who benefit from DACA’s protections, but also their families, employers, schools and communities. Many other Dreamers are prevented from applying for DACA, limiting their contributions.   

"Americans’ support for solutions for Dreamers remains extremely strong, even as we recognize the need for long-term border solutions, too," said Jennie Murray, the President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. "Republicans and Democrats in Congress must come together and address both. 

"DACA recipients and other Dreamers are our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Businesses, schools, churches and law enforcement leaders all want the certainty that legislative solutions will provide."     

Polling crosstabs are available for all adults and registered voters.   

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The National Immigration Forum, in conjunction with The Bullfinch Group, conducted a nationwide online survey fielded May 16-21, 2024, among 1,200 adults, of whom 1,000 respondents were registered voters. Sampling controls were used to ensure that a proportional and representative number of respondents were interviewed from demographic groups such as age, gender, political affiliation, race, and geographic region. The margin of error for registered voters is ±3.1% at the 95% confidence interval. The margin of error for adults is ± 2.83% at the 95% confidence interval.