On June 4, the House of Representatives passed the American Promise and Dream Act by a vote of 237 to 187. If signed into law, it could protect those in Florida who have protected status or participate in the DACA program. President Trump has threatened to end DACA and rescind protected status for immigrants from countries such as El Salvador and Honduras. However, the courts have stopped those goals from being achieved.
The vote was mostly on party lines with the exception of seven Republicans who voted in favor of the legislation. While the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate, one lawmaker noted that the goal of the vote was to convince the Senate to take the issue seriously. That person noted that roughly 60% of Americans supported a plan to keep Dreamers in the United States. Those individuals were brought to the U.S. as children. In many cases, they hold jobs, pay taxes and are engaged in society.
In New York alone, about 180,000 people could benefit from the protections afforded by the American Promise and Dream Act. Republicans claimed that the legislation would be nothing more than a reward for breaking American laws. They also claimed that the bill sends the message that America isn’t interested in enforcing its laws.
Those who are seeking a way to stay in the U.S. may want to consider applying for asylum. Doing so could give them the right to live and work in the country free from the violence or persecution experienced at home. An attorney can help an individual apply for asylum or explore other options to remain in the country legally. This may include applying for permanent resident status or full U.S. citizenship.
