On June 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. It was chaired by Illinois Democratic Senator Richard Durbin, one of the Senators who introduced the DREAM Act 20 years ago.
The Judiciary Committee is a standing committee comprised of 22 senators, which is responsible for reviewing pending legislation in areas such as human rights, immigration, among others.
This Tuesday, they held a hearing to hear the different positions regarding legislation on new immigration laws that would provide legal status to young undocumented immigrants, especially Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries.
In addition to the senators, the hearing was attended by witnesses, who presented their life experiences as undocumented or with TPS. Rony Ponthieu, a nurse, is a Haitian immigrant currently working under TPS. From the beginning of the pandemic, he was registered as a nurse and essential worker. Ponthieu arrived in the United States in 1999 and has been a nurse since 2006, currently working at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
In his speech Ponthieu expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for opening its doors to him, however, he called on the authorities for the government to support TPS beneficiaries, who make contributions to society that benefit everyone. "I respectfully urge the U.S. Senate to support the Dream and Promise Act, which includes a permanency pathway for immigrant youth and Temporary Protected Status holders."
On the other hand, physician Manuel Bernal Mejia, commented on his experience as an undocumented immigrant and as a DACA beneficiary. Bernal Mejia was brought to the U.S. at the age of two by his parents, so he considers the U.S. as his only home. Thanks to DACA, he was able to attend the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago.
As a physician, Bernal Mejía has been part of the fight against the pandemic. However, he recognizes that millions of dreamers contribute daily to the development of the country: "And although it is true that most of the dreamers are not doctors, we all contribute to this country in our own way. America is our home and on behalf of the millions of Dreamers living in the United States I ask that we be allowed to return home permanently after we are allowed to earn citizenship."
The bill, which would provide citizenship to dreamers and TPS beneficiaries, requires at least five or six more Republican votes to pass in the Senate, according to Senator Durbin.
