Dream and Promise Act

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy faces an uncertain future due to attacks from the courts, with the most recent ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2025 upholding previous rulings finding DACA was unlawful. The threat to DACA and the uncertainty it is causing to hundreds of thousands of individuals coincides with the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. This includes the recent decisions to effectively end protections for some 750,000 TPS holders from Venezuela and Haiti, who like DACA recipients have been in the U.S. lawfully for some time. These concerning developments for these and other populations require real solutions, and this piece examines one of these positive solutions sorely needed at this moment – the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act.  

What will this bill do?

The American Dream and Promise Act would create a “conditional permanent resident” status that is valid for up to ten years that eligible Dreamers could obtain if they meet certain prerequisites, including being in the U.S. since 2021, not being inadmissible, not being convicted of specific crimes, and currently being in high school or some other form of higher education. It would also allow Dreamers to obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status after completing the conditional permanent resident requirements and showing that they have at least two years of higher education, served at least two years in the military, or worked for at least three years. Finally, the bill also applies to TPS and DED holders, permitting them to obtain LPR status if they have continuously been in the U.S. for at least three years prior to the passage of the bill, show that they were eligible or had TPS in 2017 or had DED in 2021, and meet general admissibility requirements. 

How many people will benefit from this bill?

A 2021 estimate by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that over 4.4 million individuals would be eligible to benefit from the bill’s provisions, including 2.7 million Dreamers. DACA recipients reside in every state including over 150,000 in California, nearly 90,000 in Texas, almost 30,000 in Illinois, and over 20,000 in Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Arizona.  

Why is this bill needed now?

In 2012, former president Obama announced the DACA policy to provide individuals meeting certain prerequisites, including passing criminal and other background checks, protection from deportation and the ability to work legally in the US. While DACA was intended to be a temporary measure until Congress passed a permanent solution, years of that body’s inaction has meant that DACA is the only form of protection for hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth in the country. These youth have overwhelmingly benefited the country with their contributions to our communities and economy.

Nonetheless, DACA has been challenged in the courts in recent years making the policy vulnerable. Most recently, in January 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case Texas v. US that DACA was unlawful but allowed current DACA recipients to continue to renew their applications and work permits and receive protection from deportation. This decision follows a similar one made in September 2023 by the District Court of the Southern District of Texas. 

Durable legislative solutions are urgently needed. Growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the country is being fueled by the Trump administration’s attacks on sanctuary jurisdictions and local organizations who assist immigrants and Congress passing bills such as the Laken Riley Act. This in turn is making it more untenable for immigrants to continue to live in safety and security in their own homes and communities, forcing many to make the hard decision to return to their home countries and leave their lives in the US behind.  

How do Dreamers positively impact the country?

DACA recipients have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the US economy, workforce, and communities. More than three-quarters of DACA recipients participate in the labor force, contributing an estimated $13.3 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Also, DACA recipients are highly represented in essential industries with over 40,000 working in healthcare, 20,000 working in education, and over 20,000 working in transportation. A total of 343,000 work in essential jobs. 50% of DACA recipients have a bachelor’s degree or above and 75% have at least an associate’s degree. DACA recipient households pay $6.4 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. Finally, DACA recipients own nearly 70,000 homes across the country and make over $760 million in mortgage payments and $2.5 billion in rental payments per year. 

What is the American public’s view on the bill’s provisions, especially a pathway to citizenship?

Public opinion polls indicate strong support for the American Dream and Promise Act and its provisions aimed at providing stability and a path to citizenship for long-term immigrants. In an April 2024 poll, Global Strategy Group and BSP Research found 76% of battleground state voters support providing work permits to Dreamers who have been in the U.S. for a long time and have passed a background check. Additionally, a March 2024 poll by Global Strategy Group found 72% of swing state voters, including 89% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans, support “creating a way for Dreamers and DACA recipients to stay in the U.S. and work here legally”. Latino voters also show significant support for these measures, with a September 2023 poll showing 77% of Latino voters in battleground states backing the idea of allowing Dreamers “to stay and legally work in the U.S. permanently”.

What efforts can people make to support this bill?

Even though the window to deliver on a legislative solution to ensure permanent protections for Dreamers, and TPS and DED holders may seem slim in today’s political climate, the American Dream and Promise Act has a strong history of bipartisan support. Getting Members to co-sponsor the bill to show support and tying DACA recipients’ contributions to our economy and their essential work in crucial industries is key. If there is an opportunity to advance this bill, the necessary foundational support must be present and ready to be used.