WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The legislation offers a path to citizenship for Dreamers, thousands of whom live in New Mexico, and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
According to the Center for American Progress, “ New Mexico is home to 17,800 immigrants who are eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act ,” including approximately 7,400 people in Bernalillo County; 2,600 people in Doña Ana County; 2,000 people in Santa Fe County; and 600 people in Sandoval County.
“This legislation is a historic step forward in providing a pathway to citizenship for thousands of our fellow New Mexicans who are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our family members – and who are American in every way except on paper. Dreamers, along with TPS and DED recipients, are an essential part of New Mexico’s fabric, contributing to our economy and enriching our communities i n too many ways to list or to count. But their fate has been hanging in the balance ever since the Trump administration senselessly stripped away their protections and forced them back into the shadows.
“These long overdue measures would give certainty to millions of immigrants across the country whose lives are in limbo. I commend the House for taking bipartisan action to pass this critical legislation. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn. I urge Majority Leader McConnell to hold a vote on the American Dream and Promise Act without delay – there is simply no excuse to bury this bill in his legislative graveyard. It’s past time that we take the necessary steps to replace our broken immigration system with laws that reflect our values as a nation.”
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