U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Will Hurd (R-TX) already have secured more than 50 cosponsors for new bipartisan legislation introduced on Jan. 16 that would keep young undocumented immigrants from being deported.
Their bill, the Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act, H.R. 4796, also would establish stricter border security measures and eliminate immigration court backlogs. U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) joined the congressmen in introducing the measure.
“The government asked Dreamers to come out of the shadows, and it’s time for Congress to pass legislation that will allow them to truly move forward with their lives,” said Denham, referring to individuals in the United States who were brought to the country without documents as children, but who have been educated in American public schools and integrated with the country’s culture.
The Dreamers term originally hails from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, introduced in 2001. While that bill failed, it reappeared in subsequent years in a variety of forms as Congress debated immigration reform. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program went into effect with the goal of providing Dreamers temporary relief. The program contains many requirements first proposed by senators in the 2001 DREAM Act.
However, President Donald Trump wants to end DACA by March and most recently rejected another proposed bipartisan bill from the Senate. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he will appeal the district court ruling that has been filed blocking the Trump administration from ending DACA.
Now, according to Denham’s office, H.R. 4796 offers an alternative for protecting DACA recipients from being deported and the bill endeavors to advance reforms in Central America that “address the factors driving migration to the United States,” according to a statement.
“DACA recipients are American in every way possible except on paper,” Rep. Denham said. “They have paid their fees, passed background checks and are working, pursuing college degrees, or serving in our military to contribute to the greatness of America.”
H.R. 4796 would enable Dreamers who are pursuing an education, serving in the U.S. military, or employed to apply for permanent U.S. resident status on a conditional basis, according to the text of the bill. Permanent resident status would be granted if certain conditions for educational attainment, military service or employment are met.
Persons under DACA protection deemed inadmissible under H.R. 4796 could be granted a waiver by the DHS secretary “for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or if the waiver is otherwise in the public interest,” according to the bill’s text provided by the congressman’s office.
On that point, the bill also would establish a comprehensive southern border strategy, including strengthening requirements for security technology, and providing for physical barriers or levees where appropriate. “The only way to accomplish this is through compromise that includes border security measures,” Denham said.
If enacted, the USA Act also would increase the number of immigration judges to more efficiently move along pending and future cases.
“After multiple attempts to find a solution, it’s time to narrow our strategy,” said Rep. Hurd. “Our plan offers a permanent legislative solution for children who came here of no fault of their own — while achieving operational control of the border by 2020.”
Rep. Hurd, whose district borders Mexico for some 800 miles, added that “Americans are tired of partisan gridlock. They deserve solutions.”
Rep. Aguilar also spoke to that point. “This bill represents a real bipartisan compromise that will provide a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers, and allow for a reasonable approach to securing our border,” Aguilar said. “One of my top priorities is to ensure that these young people can continue the lives they’ve built here, and the USA Act will do just that.”