ACLU Statement on The Dream Act Introduction

WASHINGTON — In an important stride towards citizenship for the 11 million undocumented people in the United States, Sens. Durbin and Graham today reintroduced the Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for nearly two million people in the country.

The following is a statement from Naureen Shah, senior advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union:

“Today’s reintroduction of the Dream Act is an important recognition that millions of undocumented people in our country should be able to live their lives freely and with a pathway to citizenship without fear of being deported away from their loved ones. The ACLU supports a clean Dream Act, with no tradeoffs that increase detention or deportations, as a first step toward the goal of creating a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants.

“Today’s introduction is the result of the unrelenting resilience, persistence, and grit of immigrant communities, who have fought for legislation that protects our communities without criminalizing, threatening, or harming others. While President Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to DACA, the threat of a temporary fix and legal limbo still remains. It is far past time for Congress to pass the Dream Act and move forward with citizenship for all.”