Voice Your Support for Bi-Partisan Dream Act

The Dream Act of 2017, S. 1615, was recently introduced in the Senate as a bipartisan effort, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). It is intended to protect immigrant youth who entered the United States as children and know America as their only home. The bill offers qualifying immigrant youth “conditional permanent resident status” and a path to full lawful permanent residency and eventual citizenship. This bill would protect numerous youth, including the estimated 780,000 individuals who received temporary relief from deportation and employment eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The young people S. 1615 seeks to protect are contributors to our economy, veterans of our military, academic standouts in our universities, and leaders in our parishes and communities. As Catholics, we have long supported DREAMERS as we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children.

We ask you to renew your support for DREAMERS by urging your Senator to co-sponsor S. 1615. You can do so by sending the following message:  

Dear Senator,

As a person of faith, I stand with the U.S. Catholic Bishops and write to express my strong support for the "Dream Act of 2017" (S. 1615). The young people protected by this bill are contributors to our economy, veterans of our military, academic standouts in our universities, and leaders in our parishes and communities. As Catholics, we have long supported DREAMERS as we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children. Among those protected by this bill are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, a program that has benefited over 780,000 young people. DACA has ensured that recipients are able to live their lives free of the anxiety that they could be deported at any time to a country they do not know and separated from their families. We believe immigrant youth deserve continued protection and a path to citizenship.

I urge you to:
•    Support and co-sponsor S. 1615, the Dream Act of 2017; and
•    Continue to work towards larger legislative reform of our immigration laws.

The faith community stands with you in support of the DREAM Act of 2017, S. 1615, and vows to work with you to reform our immigration system in a humane and common-sense manner.

Thank you.