ACLU Statement on Passage of Dream and Promise Act

WASHINGTON — The following is a statement from Naureen Shah, senior advocacy and policy counsel for the ACLU, regarding passage of the American Dream and Promise Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The American Dream and Promise Act is a crucial step toward fulfilling the promise of a pathway to citizenship for millions of Americans in waiting. Thousands of young peoples’ lives were changed for the better by DACA, only to be upended by the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant attacks. Likewise, people with Temporary Protected Status were subjected to constant uncertainty and threats of deportation. These policies, like the Trump administration’s entire anti-immigrant agenda, marked a horrific chapter that Congress has the power to end once and for all with bold efforts that put humanity and dignity front and center.

“We urge the Senate to pass citizenship legislation without delay, and without making tradeoffs that betray our values by undercutting protections for people seeking asylum or further militarizing our border communities. The Senate should prioritize the humanity and dignity of our immigrant communities, which requires abandoning provisions in the House legislation that import the injustices of the criminal legal system.”