On Wednesday, Senate Leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell received a letter signed by a coalition of over 100 companies and trade association to pass the Dream Act of 2021. “Continued delay or inaction will cause significant negative economic and social impact on businesses and hundreds of thousands of deserving young people across the country,” the letter said, with signatures from companies in every major sector of the economy. Many DACA beneficiaries work for the companies who sent the letter to the Senate leaders.
The letter adds pressure to pass a portion of the comprehensive immigration package that was unveiled two weeks ago. The package includes a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, with a special faster process proposed for beneficiaries under DACA. With slim majorities in both chambers, the Democrats face an uphill battle to pass the package. However, bipartisan effort behind the Dream Act of 2021 indicates that Dreamers would have a much easier time winning a pathway to citizenship.
The letter was signed by companies and associations that included:
- General Motors
- Marriott
- Target
- Visa
- Uber
The Democrats are already considering making the Dream Act its own legislation, passing the immigration reform package piece by piece. Passing the Dream Act would be a momentous victory 20 years in the making, as the bill has existed in some form since 2001. However, today there is unprecedented support in America for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, with recent polling finding 75% in favor.
DACA has been a crucial lifeline for undocumented students in the United States, offering work authorization and protection from deportation. However, it was always meant to be a temporary solution. Inscribing into law a pathway to citizenship would be the best way to serve our immigrant communities.
For help with your DACA application, call The Law Offices of Lloyd E. Bennett Esq., P.C. today. Call (800) 909-8129 for a confidential consultation.
