WASHINGTON – Following House passage of the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide important protections to Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) are calling on the Senate to follow suit. The Senators have introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, which would allow qualified TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency.
“The Senate must act and the president must sign into law protection for Dreamers, who mostly have known no other country but America, as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients, many of whom have been here for decades as violence and repression continue to rage in their home country,” said Senator Cardin. “These individuals have lawfully lived and worked in the U.S. as our neighbors, as they sought refuge in the U.S. We have an obligation to take action and give needed predictability and safety to people who are in an uncertain status. We need to stand up for the American values of compassion and diversity that have made this country stronger.”
“The House has done its job for Dreamers and TPS recipients – now the Senate must do the same. These families, including nearly 30,000 TPS recipients in Maryland, have lived here legally for years. We cannot in good faith send them back to some of the most dangerous places in the world. This legislation, coupled with critical protections for Dreamers, will give these families certainty and security,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“The Senate needs to follow the House’s lead and pass these important protections for immigrant families who have been living and working in the United States for decades. After fleeing wars and natural disasters, these families have established deep roots in our communities and earned the right to remain together here in the United States,” said Senator Feinstein.
“Now that the House has taken action to protect Dreamers and TPS recipients, it’s on the Senate to do the same. These people are here because of circumstances beyond their control, and they have become established, productive members of our communities who deserve to remain in the country they now call home,” said Senator Kaine.
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