Last Updated on February 23, 2023
Key Points
- On February 4, 2021, Senators Durbin and Graham introduced the 2021 Dream Act
- The Dream Act was initially introduced in 2001 by the two senators
- President Biden seeks comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to lawful status for “Dreamers”
- The 2021 Dream Act is designed to provide qualified persons brought to the U.S. as children with a path to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship
Overview
On February 4, 2021, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the 2021 Dream Act as part of the Biden administration’s initiative for comprehensive immigration reform.
What are the Changes?
The 2021 Dream Act legislation is being introduced to provide persons brought to the U.S. as children the chance to obtain lawful permanent residency and pursue American citizenship if they meet specific criteria. Twenty years from its initial introduction, the Dream Act remains proposed legislation and must be passed by Congress to become law.
Who is Affected?
The Act applies to qualified persons brought to the U.S. as children and is intended to provide a path to conditional residency, permanent residency, and citizenship.
Background
Congress has failed to pass the Dream Act multiple times. In 2012, President Obama established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The DACA program was extensively litigated under the Trump administration. However, President Biden issued an executive order on January 20, 2021 to preserve and fortify the DACA program.
Looking Ahead
It remains to be seen if the Dream Act legislation will pass in Congress.
Envoy is pleased to provide you this information, which was prepared in collaboration with Anne Walsh, who is a Managing Attorney at Global Immigration Associates, P.C. (www.giafirm.com), Envoy’s affiliated law firm.
Content in this publication is not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an Envoy-affiliated attorney or another qualified professional.
