Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is leading a push for a bill to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. The bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act also includes recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
Jayapal and Rep. Sylvia Garcia reintroduced the bill Wednesday. The legislation has been cosponsored by 201 members of Congress, including all the bill leads, and has been endorsed by nearly 120 organizations.
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“As an immigrant who came to this country at 16 years old and founded the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington State before coming to Congress, I’m proud to stand with Dreamers as they pursue a roadmap to citizenship. For far too long, Dreamers have had to live in the shadows as they do essential work in communities across the country,” said Jayapal.
“Now, under President Trump’s cruel immigration policies, many are terrified that DACA could be struck down, Dreamers could be deported, and their families could be torn apart. But Dreamers are Americans and Dreamers are home. It’s past time that we give them citizenship and pass legislation to protect them from cruel mass deportation campaigns and anti-immigrant stunts.”
Dreamers have spent nearly their entire lives here in the United States. They have attended school, earned degrees, built careers, and contributed billions to our economy, all while calling this country home,” a press release from her office noted.
Many have started families and raised children who are U.S. citizens. For example, it is estimated that the average DACA recipient came to this country at the age of six and has been here for 20 years.
Likewise, TPS holders have been living and working in the U.S. for decades. They have built their families here and contribute significantly to their communities and our nation’s economy.
Dreamers and TPS recipients make major economic and fiscal contributions each year. DACA recipients pay approximately $6.2 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes annually, according to the release.
The Center for American Progress estimates that the national GDP could grow by $799 billion over the next decade if Dreamers were provided a pathway to citizenship.
Economic models show a pathway to citizenship would increase wages for all workers in the U.S. and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. It is estimated that DACA recipients in 2022 collectively earned nearly $27.9 billion and contributed nearly $2.1 billion to Social Security and Medicare, despite not being eligible for these benefits under current law.
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The bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 would:
- Protect and grant eligible Dreamers conditional permanent residence for ten years and cancel removal proceedings
- Provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers by granting full Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status
- Provide individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) with LPR status
- Protect Dreamers and individuals with TPS or DED during their application for relief under the American Dream and Promise Act
- Provide eligible Dreamers with access to federal financial aid
- Allow eligible Dreamers located abroad to apply for relief
- Prevent penalizing states that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students based on residency
The bill also received support from Indian American Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), who emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation. “Passing this bill is long overdue,” Bera said. “Dreamers contribute to our communities, economy, and future—let’s give them the certainty they deserve.”