It is estimated that the number of undocumented persons living in the United States who came to the country as children exceeds three million. For a majority of these Dreamers, the United States is the only country they have ever known, and they are now woven into the fabric of our society. Dreamers are an integral part of our economy and our communities—they are business owners, pastors, essential workers, veterans, taxpayers, and members of American families. Nevertheless, this population lives in uncertainty, facing the constant threat of policy changes, deportation, and upheaval of their families.

In 2012, the Department of Homeland Security created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA is available to Dreamers who arrived in the United States prior to their 16th birthday, have maintained continuous presence in the country since June 15, 2007, and have not engaged in certain criminal activity. While DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship, beneficiaries of the program are granted a temporary form of protection from deportation and work authorization. To date, over 800,000 people have benefited from DACA. However, the program has been challenged for many years and was recently ruled unlawful by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. While current DACA beneficiaries can continue to renew their protection for the time being, no new applications can be processed. It is possible that the U.S. Supreme Court will soon be called upon to review this case and ultimately decide the fate of the program and its beneficiaries.

Since 2001, members of Congress have attempted to pass legislation that would provide Dreamers with permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has long supported bills, such as the DREAM Act, that would provide this population access to permanent legal status. As the 119th Congress moves forward, legislators should protect and support Dreamers, especially DACA beneficiaries and those who are part of mixed-status families. Only Congress is empowered to provide a permanent solution for Dreamers. Additionally, any legislation put forward in the coming months should respect the inviolable dignity of these and other immigrants, taking into consideration their profound contributions to our nation and the wellbeing of families.