WASHINGTON, D.C. – Friday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced The BRIDGE Act, bipartisan legislation to provide legislative relief to nearly 800,000 DREAMers with DACA.
The act would maintain the protections of President Barack Obama’s DACA program. More than 740,000 young people were granted deportation reprieve and work permits under the program, but could now lose those protections, should Trump follow through on a promise to end DACA immediately upon taking office.
“If you have DACA now, you would receive provisional protected status until your DACA expires and you can apply for an extension. If you don’t have DACA protection now but you’re eligible, you could also apply for this provisional protected presence,” Durbin said reported Roll Call. “Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, be subject to criminal background checks and meet the same eligibility criteria that currently applies to DACA. The status we’re creating would be good for three years after the BRIDGE Act becomes law.”
Cristóbal J. Alex, president of Latino Victory Fund applauded Sens. Durbin and Graham for coming together on this act calling it, “ … an urgent emergency response to President-elect Trump’s threat to put DREAMers in danger of deportation by revoking DACA on the first day of his presidency.”
Alex continued, “While The BRIDGE Act is not the long term solution that our community and our country need, it is imperative that we pass this bipartisan legislation in order to provide protection to the nearly 800,000 DREAMers with DACA who are Americans in all but paper and contributing to our country, our communities and our economy every day.
“For long Republicans have said their issue with DACA and DAPA are not the programs themselves, but that they were put in place through executive order. If that is truly the case, there is no excuse for Republicans not to support this bill and protect immigrant youth through immediate Congressional action.
“We will do everything in our power to protect DACA and guarantee that it is not repealed without a legislative solution that ensures that DREAMers can continue studying, working, and living their life without fear of deportation. Latino Victory is committed to all of our undocumented brothers and sisters, and we will continue fighting for a broader solution that gives permanent relief for DREAMers and all undocumented families.
“It’s time for Republican leaders in Congress to do their job and take urgent action to protect undocumented youth.”
