Commentary: Congressman Steve Pearce introduced H.R. 4488, the Preserving Opportunity for Childhood Arrivals Act, which will provide certainty to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
“Working diligently through school to get into college, working nights and weekends to pay your way through college to earn a degree, and getting a good-paying job to help provide for yourself and your family – that’s the American dream. It reminds me of a brilliant young man in New Mexico who was brought to the United States and raised here since the age of two – this country is his home. He worked nights and weekends to pay his way through law school. He has dedicated his career to helping others navigate their way through the immigration system. While he qualified for the DACA program, he didn’t sign up fearing its temporary nature and privacy concerns. Even though it does not benefit him, he supports this bill, and understands the profoundly positive impact it will have on the lives of DACA recipients,” stated Rep. Pearce.
On September 5, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, more commonly known as DACA, would end on March 5, 2018. Instantly, nearly 800,000 young immigrants brought to the United States who were benefitting from this administrative action had their worlds flipped upside down.
“After learning the DACA program would come to an end in just six months, I immediately went to work to develop a solution. One that will provide young immigrants around the nation with even greater certainty so they can continue to work, go to school, and provide for their families with no strings attached. The bill I introduced does just that.
We in New Mexico know firsthand the harmful impacts of our nation’s outdated and broken immigration system. DACA recipients have only known the U.S. as their home. That is why, my bill ensures those who were brought to the country by no fault of their own can live and thrive in the U.S. without the fear of deportation. While there’s more to be done, I’m confident my bill provides long-term certainty these young, hardworking immigrants need to achieve the American dream.
DACA recipients – also known as our friends, neighbors, and coworkers – deserve meaningful change, rather than patchwork solutions that previous Administrations put into place without truly understanding the long-term effects. While not a large fix, it is one that will profoundly change the lives of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants. I am proud to offer this commonsense, middle ground solution for this time sensitive issue that affects thousands of young immigrants,” Rep. Pearce continued.
Background
In September, Rep. Pearce sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan urging Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to establish a permanent solution for people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.
Congressman Pearce’s office has been working with individuals and groups in New Mexico and around the nation to create a solution that will assist all DACA recipients impacted. This bill is a solution that is rooted in justice and fairness. At the same time, this legislation honors the millions of immigrants who applied, waited, and arrived in the United States legally by ensuring no beneficiary of this program can jump the line for a Green Card or citizenship.
H.R. 4488 creates a “conditional protected status,” or CPS, for current DACA recipients so they can live and work in the U.S. without the constant fear that they might be deported. CPS will be active for 10 years and can be continually renewed at the end of each 10-year segment. It does not require any work, education, or military requirement to qualify. Additionally, recipients will be able to apply for green cards through the regular process as any other immigrant looking to come to the United States.