Newly sworn-in U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque) is pushing for the U.S. Senate to approve House Resolution 6 (HR 6), also known as The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021.
HR 6, sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-California), would offer protection from deportation and the chance to acquire permanent legal status in the United States for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and people with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), according to a report by the National Immigration Forum.
"Nine years ago, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was created and made it possible for Dreamers to come out of the shadows, get an education and work legally," Stansbury recently posted on Twitter.
If passed, HR 6 would permit an estimated 2.3 million Dreamers who were brought to the United States as children to seek permanent residence in the United States. Specifically, HR 6 would cover Dreamers who have been physically living in the United States since January 2021 and were minors at the time of entry.
"It’s time for the Senate to pass the Dream and Promise Act and provide Dreamers and essential workers with a pathway to citizenship," Stansbury tweeted.
HR 6's protections would also permit roughly 400,000 TPS and DED holders to stay in the country. Part of the act would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to deny an application for conditional permanent resident status based on “clear and convincing evidence” that the applicant has engaged in criminal activity or is a risk to public safety.
However, this would require that people facing deportation be given a fair opportunity to apply for protection under the law if they desire it or otherwise seem to be eligible under the bill. People with pending applications would also be able to get permission to work and apply for advance parole under the legislation.
