| The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to contact their Members of Congress and urge them to advance legislation to provide permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers (those who came to the U.S. as children), especially Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and those who are part of mixed-status families.
The number of undocumented persons living in the United States who came to the country as children is estimated to exceed three million. The U.S. is the only country most have ever known, and they are now woven into the fabric of our society. Dreamers are an integral part of our economy and our communities—they are business owners, pastors, essential workers, veterans, taxpayers, and members of American families. Nevertheless, they live in uncertainty, facing the constant threat of policy changes, deportation, and upheaval of their families.
In 2012, the Department of Homeland Security created the DACA program. DACA has been available to people who arrived in the U.S. prior to their 16th birthday, have maintained continuous presence in the country since June 15, 2007, and have not engaged in certain criminal activity. While DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship, beneficiaries are granted a temporary form of protection from deportation and work authorization. To date, over 800,000 people have benefited from DACA.
However, DACA has been challenged for many years and was recently ruled unlawful by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. While current beneficiaries can continue to renew their protection for the time being, no new applications can be processed. The U.S. Supreme Court may soon be called upon to review this case and ultimately decide the fate of the program and its beneficiaries.
Since 2001, members of Congress have attempted to pass legislation that would provide Dreamers with permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship. The USCCB has long supported bills, such as the DREAM Act, that would provide this population access to permanent legal status. As the 119th Congress moves forward, legislators should protect and support Dreamers, especially DACA beneficiaries and those who are part of mixed-status families. Only Congress is empowered to provide a permanent solution.
Additionally, any legislation put forward should respect the inviolable dignity of these and other immigrants, taking into consideration their profound contributions to our nation and the well-being of families. It is vital that legislators avoid changes to existing law that would adversely impact mixed-status families, including limiting eligibility for mixed-status families in such a way that prevents them from accessing the same support as other American families. Our society is only as strong as its families, and that includes those comprised of people with different immigration statuses.
Learn more about what the USCCB has said on these issues by reading this position paper and letter to Congress on budget reconciliation.
To contact your Members of Congress, click below: |
