Issued June 04, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC - SEIU International Executive Vice President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement on the House of Representatives’ passage of the Dream and Promise Act –legislation which would allow Dreamers and people with TPS and DED to stay in this country after years of living, working and contributing to the U.S.:
“The passage of the Dream and Promise Act in the House of Representatives is a testament to what is possible when working people from all walks of life come together to demand that everyone, no matter where they come from, be treated with dignity and respect. Thanks to the brave people who risked their livelihoods to fight to stay in this country, the tireless activists who supported them, and a majority of House lawmakers committed to doing the right thing, millions of Dreamers and people with TPS and DED are one step closer to being able to keep the jobs, families, and homes they have worked so hard to establish.”
“This includes powerful leaders in our union like Perla Canales, a TPS holder from Staten Island who has lived in this country for over 20 years and came to Washington, DC before the Dream and Promise Act was introduced this past February to urge lawmakers to support legislation on behalf of all people with TPS who aren’t able to speak out.”
“This last election cycle, voters delivered a message to Congress: put working families first. We urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the Dream and Promise Act so the millions of people whose employers, families, and communities who rely on them aren’t forced to leave the U.S after years of living here and contributing to our economy. The Dream and Promise Act is not the end of our fight. With 2020 right around the corner, working people and the majority of Americans know that only comprehensive immigration reform, that brings all 11 million people out of the shadows, is the real solution for America.”