Hernandez Urges Congress to Pass Dream Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to fighting back against the bigotry of Donald Trump, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, is urging the newly Democratic U.S. House of Representatives to pass protections for the thousands of young people whose livelihood hangs in limbo ever since the shameful rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“The livelihood of over 42,000 young people in Illinois, and over 800,000 nationwide, has been hanging by a thread ever since Donald Trump’s shameful decision to end DACA,” Hernandez said. “These young people are doctors, engineers, teachers, and members of our communities, so it’s crucial for Congress to ensure that they aren’t ripped away from their loved ones.”

Hernandez is leading the charge by introducing House Joint Resolution 27, which urges Congress to pass the Dream Act, ensuing protections for the roughly 42,400 Dreamers in Illinois who are vulnerable to deportation. Congress has been unable to pass comprehensive immigration reform for decades, which is why former President Barack Obama implemented DACA. Donald Trump’s decision to end these protections though, have made passage of the Dream Act necessary. Its passage would not only put thousands of talented young people on a path to permanent legal status, but it would also add $281 billion to the country’s GDP over 10 years. Recently, U.S. House Democrats introduced the 2019 Dream and Promise Act, which could provide permanent status to Dreamers and beneficiaries of temporary protected status (TPS).

“We have made tremendous progress at the state-level to protect Dreamers and our immigrant communities,” Hernandez said. “The passage of the Dream Act would signal that regardless of Donald Trump’s bigotry, our county is still a beacon of hope and diversity.”