Torres, Escobar Pass Bill Safeguarding DREAMers’ Private Information
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) celebrated today as their bill, the Protect DREAMers Confidentiality Act, passed out of the House of Representatives as an amendment to the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6).
While President Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office preserving and fortifying the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, previous actions by the Trump Administration to end the program demonstrate just how vulnerable DACA recipients are in our political system.
Torres and Escobar's bill, which is supported by United We Dream, prevents the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using DREAMers' private information, such as an address or phone number, for deportation purposes. Specifically, the Protect DREAMers Confidentiality Act would safeguard the confidential information submitted in requests for the DACA program from disclosure to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for any purpose other than implementing the DACA program, with only limited exceptions involved.
The legislation passed as part of the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which among other things, creates a reasonable pathway to citizenship and prevents non-priority deportations by updating our Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) policies.
The lawmakers released the following statements:
"Dreamers are indispensable to our diversity and our culture – their presence in our communities should never be subject to political whims of the moment," Congresswoman Norma J. Torres said. "The bill we passed out of the House today will ensure the personal information DACA recipients voluntarily provided to receive their status is never used against them by officials opposed to the program. I'm proud to continue our partnership on this important issue, and I'm thrilled to see so many of our colleagues join us in keeping our friends, neighbors and loved ones who are American in every way but the paperwork safe right here at home."
"Dreamers are part of the rich and beautiful fabric of our nation and my vote for the Dream and Promise Act delivers on my promise to defend the American Dream and permanently protect immigrant youth so they can continue contributing to our communities and economy," Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said. "I am proud that the Protect DREAMers Confidentiality Act was included in this vital legislation to ensure the confidential information Dreamers have provided about themselves and their families is never used against them by those trying to undermine the DACA program and America's values."
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate today.
"I'm pleased that the House and Senate version of the Dream Act includes my provision on Dreamer data confidentiality that I have championed for years. We must ensure that no matter who is in the White House, Dreamer's DACA application information – such as telephone numbers and addresses – is protected. I'm proud to reintroduce this important, bicameral legislation in the U.S. Senate today and provide DACA applicants with a sense of security as they continue their paths to citizenship," said Senator Heinrich.
The Protect DREAMers Confidentiality Act is cosponsored by 30 lawmakers: Representatives Schakowsky (D-IL), Espaillat (D-NY), Holmes Norton (D-DC), Lee (D-CA), Hastings (D-FL), Vargas (D-CA), Titus (D-NV), Omar (D-MN), Watson Coleman (D-NJ), McGovern (D-MA), Cardenas (D-CA), Soto (D-FL) and Gallego (D-AZ), as well as Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Feinstein (D-CA), Markey (D-MA), Warren (D-MA), Sanders (I-VT), Merkley (D-OR), Rosen (D-NV), Reed (D-RI), Wyden (D-OR), Van Hollen (D-MD), Klobuchar (D-MN), Booker (D-NJ), Schatz (D-HI) and Cardin (D-MD).
More information about the Dream and Promise Act is available here.