H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act of 2021
Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard,
Nydia Velázquez, and Yvette Clarke
The Dream and Promise Act allows Dreamers and individuals with TPS and DED to contribute fully in the country they love and know to be their home by providing a pathway to citizenship.
Title I: Protecting America’s Dreamers
The Dream and Promise Act would grant Dreamers conditional permanent resident status for 10 years, and cancel removal proceedings if they:
- Have been continuously physically present in the U.S. on or before January 1, 2021;
- Were 18 years old or younger on the initial date of entry into the U.S.;
- Are not inadmissible on the following grounds: criminal, security and terrorism,smuggling, student visa abuse, ineligibility for citizenship, polygamy, international child abduction, unlawful voting, or former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation; and have not participated in persecution;
- Other than a state offense for which an essential element is the person’s immigration status or a minor traffic violation, have not been convicted of:
– any federal or state offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year
– 3 or more federal or state offenses for which the person was convicted on different dates and imprisoned for an aggregate of 90 days or more;
– a crime of domestic violence (unless the applicant is a victim themselves of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse or neglect, elder abuse or neglect, or human trafficking, having been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, or having been a victim of criminal activity); and
- Graduate from high school, obtain a GED or industry recognized credential, or are in a program assisting students in obtaining a high school diploma, GED or equivalent exam, or in an apprenticeship program.
- Pass security and law enforcement background checks pay a reasonable application fee and register for the Selective Service if required.
- Additionally, children of certain temporary workers who arrived in the U.S. at the age of 18 or younger and were continuously present in the U.S. since January 1, 2021 are also eligible for relief.
In order to gain full lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, Dreamers must:
- Acquire a degree from a U.S. institution of higher education; or complete at least two years in good standing in a bachelor’s or higher degree program or in an area careerand technical education program at a post-secondary level in the U.S.; or
- Complete at least two years of military service, and if discharged, received an honorabledischarge; or
- Be employed for periods of time totaling at least three years and at least 75 percent ofthe time that the person has had employment authorization.
The bill also includes a number of provision for Dreamers, including:
- Repealing Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which penalizes states that grant in-state tuition to undocumented students on the basis of residency;
- Allowing Dreamers to access federal financial aid;
- Permitting eligible Dreamers deported from the United States by the TrumpAdministration to apply for relief from abroad.
Title II: A Path Forward for TPS and DED Recipients
The Dream and Promise Act would grant individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) LPR status and cancel removal proceedings if they:
- Have been in the United States for a period of 3 years before the Act’s enactment; and
- Were eligible or had TPS on September 17, 2017 or had DED status as of January 20,2021.
The bill amends current TPS law to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide an explanation of a decision to terminate a TPS designation and requires the Secretary must provide a report 3 days after publishing a notice of such termination. This report must explain the original designation and any progress made by a country to resolve the issues leading to TPS designation. The Secretary also has to describe the qualitative and quantitative methods used to assess whether or not country conditions have improved, which would include addressing any challenges or shortcomings related to the initial designation.
The bill also clarifies that an immigrant entering the TPS program will be considered as having been inspected and admitted into the United States.
Title III: Additional General Provisions
The bill also sets forth a number of provisions that protect Dreamers and individuals with TPS or DED during their application for relief. These include:
- Ensuring the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may not remove a person who appears prima facie eligible for cancellation of removal and conditional permanent residence.
- Requiring the Secretary to provide a reasonable opportunity to apply for relief to a person subject to removal who requests such an opportunity or who appears prima facie eligible.
- Providing a fee exemption for individuals under the age of 18, received an income that is less than 150% of the poverty line, are in foster care or lacking familiar support, or who cannot care for themselves due to a serious, chronic disability.
- Permitting individuals with a pending application an employment authorization document and to apply for advance parole.
- Permitting the Secretary to waive select inadmissibility bars and crimes of domestic violence for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or if the waiver is otherwise in the public interest.
- Strengthening administrative and judicial review procedures for individuals denied benefits under this Act.
- Ensuring the confidentiality of information of applicants and prohibiting DHS from using information provided during the application for immigration enforcement.
- Establishing a new grant program to assist nonprofits in screening individuals for eligibility and assisting in their application for relief under this bill.
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