A group of lawmakers has reintroduced the American Dream and Promise Act of 2025, a legislative initiative aimed at creating a pathway to citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs.
This bill, backed by 201 members of Congress, seeks to establish permanent protections for individuals who have lived in the United States for decades and actively contribute to the nation’s economic and social growth.
According to NepYork, Representatives Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) spearheaded the initiative, supported by colleagues Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03). The bill aims to provide Dreamers—young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children—and TPS holders with a clear pathway to legal permanent residency and, ultimately, citizenship.
DACA recipients, who arrived in the U.S. at an average age of six, have been living in the country for over two decades, while many TPS holders have built their professional lives and families in the U.S.
This legislative proposal responds to years of uncertainty, particularly during the Trump administration, which sought to terminate TPS for nationals of six countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Nepal, and Honduras. Though legal challenges blocked these attempts, many immigrants continue to live in limbo.
“Our nation cannot afford to lose the entrepreneurship, talent, creativity, public service, and perseverance that Dreamers bring. If that isn’t the American spirit, I don’t know what is,” stated Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, as reported by NepYork.
The economic impact of these communities is significant. According to NepYork, DACA recipients contribute approximately $6.2 billion in federal taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. If granted citizenship, their economic integration could lead to an estimated $799 billion increase in the U.S. GDP over the next decade. Additionally, in 2022 alone, DACA recipients contributed about $2.1 billion to Social Security and Medicare, despite not being eligible for these benefits.
The American Dream and Promise Act proposes granting eligible Dreamers a conditional permanent residency for ten years, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status. This status would also extend to TPS and Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
The bill includes comprehensive protections for applicants throughout the process, providing access to federal financial aid and ensuring that states offering in-state tuition rates to undocumented students do not face federal penalties.
If the bill is approved by Congress and signed by Donald Trump, over 520,000 Haitians with TPS could obtain permanent residency and eventually U.S. citizenship.
However, given the former president’s previous stance on immigration, it is highly unlikely that he would support such a measure.
Unless the bill secures an absolute majority, Donald Trump could use his presidential veto power to block it. However, that remains uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson must first determine the bill’s validity and decide whether to bring it to the House floor for a final vote. While the path forward is long and uncertain, it remains within the realm of possibility.
The reintroduction of the American Dream and Promise Act is seen as a crucial step toward securing rights for these communities. As Congress continues to debate the legislation, immigrant rights advocates remain steadfast in their fight for a lasting solution to protect Dreamers and TPS holders, many of whom have known no other home than the United States.