New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich applauds the Biden Administration’s proposal to slow or eliminate the deportation of an estimated 700,000 immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, or "dreamers," but said it stops short of being ideal.   

The proposal doesn’t offer a path for those immigrants to become U.S. citizens, something Heinrich feels should be included.

“Dreamers deserve to be American citizens,” Heinrich (D-Albuquerque) tweeted. “But this move by the Biden Administration is still critically important.”

“Dreamers deserve to be American citizens," U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) said. | Courtesy Photo

The proposal from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would reinforce the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created in 2012 under the Obama Administration, according to Reuters. The program essentially ensures that productive young people with no criminal history and few ties to their home countries are not deported. Dreamers receive benefits like driver’s licenses, work authorization, and access to financial aid for education.

Dreamers had to be younger than 16 when they entered the U.S. and have stayed in the country continuously for at least five years. A high school diploma or the equivalent is also mandatory as well as no felony convictions or connection to other serious crimes.

DACA was dealt a blow in July when a Texas federal judge ruled the program was illegally created by the Obama Administration and prohibited the DHS from accepting new applicants.  The Biden Administration is appealing that decision.