Congressman Cleaver Votes To Protect Dreamers, TPS and DED Recipients

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) today voted in support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide legal protections to Dreamers who meet certain conditions, including either completing higher education, serving in the military or holding a job, as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. The bill would provide a path to citizenship for each of these groups, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to continue their contributions to American society and the Kansas City community.

"The Dreamers are Americans in every single aspect except for on paper. These are individuals who grew up in America, contribute to their communities, and simply want to participate in the American Dream," Congressman Cleaver said. "It is imperative that Congress provide the Dreamers, TPS, and DED recipients with the stability and peace of mind in knowing that Uncle Sam isn't going to come for them in the middle of the night, so that they may continue to strengthen American communities."

In 2017, President Trump and his administration rescinded protections for Dreamers when they canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Instantly, more than 700,000 DACA recipients, including 2,100 in the Fifth District of Missouri, and their legal status were thrown into limbo. Although the Dreamers have been allowed to stay in the U.S. while the courts decide the legality of President Trump's order, instability and insecurity continue to hang over the heads of everyone affected. The impact of this decision not only unfairly harms the Dreamers, but the Kansas City economy as well. According to the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, the 2,100 Dreamers in the Fifth District of Missouri alone provide $14,960,000 in federal taxes, $8,688,000 in state and local taxes, and $72,819,000 in spending power.

Under the American Dream and Promise Act, individuals would be eligible for conditional permanent residence if they:

• Entered the U.S. before age 18 and were continuously present in the U.S. for the four years preceding the bill's date of enactment

• Don't have any criminal convictions or separate immigration violations that would make them inadmissible under existing law; aren't national security threats; and haven't persecuted someone based on race, religion, or other factors

• Haven't been convicted of any other offense that carries a sentence of a year or more; three or more separate offenses excluding certain marijuana or civil disobedience offenses; or domestic violence offenses that weren't related to the perpetrator's own victimization

• Meet an education requirement, such as being admitted to a higher education institution or earning a high school diploma

The Trump administration also canceled the TPS and DED programs in 2018, although that decision is still under litigation. As of Nov 29, 2018, there were more than 417,000 TPS recipients and roughly 4,000 DED recipients. Under the American Dream and Promise Act, immigrants who had TPS or DED status before the Trump administration canceled the programs would be given green cards as long as they were present in the U.S. for three years before the bill was enacted.

"Any delay in acting justly concerning the Dreamers, TPS, and DED recipients would be little more than a congressional convolution," said Congressman Cleaver.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here