Congressman Gonzalez’s Statement on President Biden’s Actions to Support Dreamers and Keep Families Together

Brownsville, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released the following statement in response to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s executive actions to ease the work visa process for DACA recipients and other Dreamers and make certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens eligible for permanent residency.

“It is past time that the Dreamers and hardworking families that have paid taxes and contributed to our communities are able to stay in the United States: the very country they are proud to call home” stated Congressman Gonzalez. “I applaud President Biden’s announcement on the 12th anniversary of DACA. We must ensure this lawful program continues until Congress can provide permanent protections and pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and the noncitizen spouses and children of American citizens.”  

President Biden’s executive order will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas. The order will also enable certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency within a three-year period and be eligible for work authorization for three years. 

Since its inception, the DACA program has provided more than 835,000 undocumented immigrants the opportunity to go to school or find employment without fear of deportation. In short, this program has afforded many the chance to live the American Dream by bettering themselves through hard work and determination. We must ensure this lawful program continues to weather legal challenges. 

Congressman Gonzalez stands with our Dreamers and calls on colleagues to act now and modernize the immigration system so that DACA recipients can continue to live in the only place they call home. This includes pushing for the passage of Congressman Gonzalez’s Safe Zones Act. If enacted, this piece of legislation would offer a safe, lawful pathway for migrants to seek asylum along the U.S. – Mexico border and Guatemala. 

 
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