The House of Representatives passed the “American Dream and Promise Act of 2019,” last night. The act, which had a unanimous affirmative vote by every single Democrat in the House, offers a path to Citizenship for individuals who were brought to the United States as children, known as DREAMers. This legislation, which impacts approximately 2.5 million immigrants whose legal protections President Trump has strategically moved to upend, via the termination of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program introduced during the Obama administration.
The new act would also help individuals under Temporary Protected Status due to country-specific disasters, civic conflict or violence including El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti along with as many as 3,600 Liberians who have a similar status known as Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), to earn legal permanent residency and eventual citizenship.
When queried about the House’s passing of this legislation, Senior Partner and Firm Founder of the New Jersey-based Immigration Law Firm, the Shulman Law Group, explained that while the passing of this act is hopeful and newsworthy, he cautioned that the Republican-controlled Senate will almost undoubtedly squash this legislation, particularly since an anti-immigration stance has become President Trump’s signature issue. Indeed, Edward Shulman, Esq. noted that Trump was quoted to say that he would veto the measure. Shulman further noted that the unanimous passing of the act demonstrates, “at once the bitter partisan divide and political cross-currents over immigration and the clear message that the Democratic Party is unequivocally pro-immigrant.” Shulman also highlighted how heartening it was to see the number of Immigration advocates and DREAMers seated in the House gallery who, upon the passing of the act, rose to their feet chanting, “Si se puede! which translates to, “Yes we can!