The Hill: Democrats renew push for Dream Act as immigration raids increase
By Raquel Martin
Democrats and immigration advocates joined forces on Capitol Hill Thursday to call for renewed protections for young undocumented immigrants as the Trump administration ramps up nationwide immigration raids.
Lawmakers reintroduced the Dream Act, legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for people brought to the United States illegally as children, often known as “Dreamers.”
Advocates say stepped-up enforcement has left many in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) community living in fear.
“Our communities are being hunted,” Greisa Martinez Rosas, the executive director at United We Dream, said, urging Congress to act.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) who is retiring at the end of his term, noted he has introduced the Dream Act every Congress since 2001.
“I’m not giving up,” Durbin said, calling himself “a proud son of an immigrant” committed to helping the next generation. He also urged former President Barack Obama to create the DACA program in 2012, which has allowed hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people to legally work and live in the United States without immediate threat of deportation.
Since Pres. Donald Trump returned to office, advocates report that immigration agents have detained as many as 20 DACA recipients. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif) said one of his constituents, a deaf DACA recipient, was detained while working at a Los Angeles car wash.
“He cannot hear, but he was stopped and detained by federal agents,” Padilla said.
The Dream Act has historically attracted some bipartisan support. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is the bill’s lead Republican sponsor, though she did not attend Thursday’s press event. Padilla said many Republicans privately express support but have yet to do so publicly.
“All I’m waiting for is for enough of my Republican colleagues to express their support publicly the way they’re sharing it privately,” Padilla said. “They know it’s wrong for so many young people to be limited in their opportunities.”
The bill still faces long odds. Some Republicans insist Congress must focus on enforcing existing immigration laws before considering broader reforms.
“There’s a process by which you can come here legally,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) “If you don’t abide by that process, you don’t have a right to be here.”
The Trump administration has encouraged undocumented immigrants to self-deport. While Trump has not moved to end DACA during his current term, he attempted to do so in 2017, an effort the Supreme Court blocked in 2020. The administration is now pursuing actions to prevent DACA recipients from accessing certain federal health and education benefits.
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