Congress must provide a permanent path to citizenship for Dreamers

South Florida is a prime example of what makes America great.

Our community is made up of people from all corners of the world, all of us connected through our shared cultures, histories and unique lived experiences. Immigrants contribute millions to our national economy, with a growing influence over every aspect of life in America — making invaluable contributions that are shaping every sector and industry from tourism and agriculture to technology and science.

Our South Florida community also has a long history of welcoming those who flee political repression and authoritarianism. In the early 1960s, over 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban minors were brought to our shores as part of Operation Peter Pan after Fidel Castro and his communist takeover moved to terminate parental rights and place minors in indoctrination centers. Miami has always been a beacon of hope to those who seek freedom and opportunity, and we must do everything in our power to strengthen the promise of America.

We do this by making sure Dreamers are protected from the political limbo they’ve been stuck in over the last couple of years ever since the Trump administration set in motion efforts to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the Obama administration created in 2012. Instead of working with Democrats to protect Dreamers, far too many Republican members of Congress have been unwilling to work in good faith to finally provide Dreamers the peace of mind they deserve by offering them a clear pathway to citizenship. Dreamers are exemplary members of our community who are American in every way except on paper. More than 830,000 Dreamers have become homeowners, built careers, started businesses and formed families — of which 343,000 DACA recipients served as frontline workers and helped us survive the pandemic. They were the health care workers, first responders, cleaners, farm workers, teachers and delivery workers that kept our economy from collapsing during dire times.

DACA unleashed the potential of so many Dreamers, but unfortunately, the program, which currently protects some 610,000 people, hangs by a thread because Trump-appointed judges have continued to undermine the program. A recent ruling in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals declared DACA unlawful, returning the case to Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas, who has repeatedly ruled against the program, to reconsider his ruling in light of the Biden administration’s new rule on DACA.

While the 5th Circuit’s ruling left DACA in place for those who currently have it, this ruling must be a wake-up call for all of us. DACA was created as a temporary fix to a problem that requires congressional action. In 2013, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that ultimately failed after the then Speaker of the House, John Boehner, refused to bring up the bill for a vote. And since then, too many Republican elected officials in Congress have embraced Trump’s disdain for immigrants or simply refused to address our broken immigration system.

As a result, short of Congress passing humane and inclusive immigration reform, we need Republicans in Congress to do the right thing. They need to walk the walk and join Democrats in passing legislation by the end of the year that will provide all Dreamers with the pathway to citizenship and peace of mind they deserve.

Passing the DREAM and Promise

Act and protecting DACA recipients is supported across the political spectrum. Fully 65% of battleground voters — including 60% of swing voters and 78% of Latino voters — support congressional action that would protect Dreamers regardless of what the federal courts might decide on the DACA program. That is why I’m running for Congress in Florida’s 27th Congressional District. My Republican opponent, María Elvira Salazar, has introduced failed, regressive legislation that would only hurt immigrants and has done nothing to convince Senate Republicans to do right by Dreamers. While Salazar offers lip service on immigration, she continues to remain silent as Trump-appointed judges threaten the livelihoods and future of Dreamers. And sadly, she’s also remained silent as her fellow MAGA Republicans use immigrants as scapegoats.

It is, therefore, incumbent on President Joe Biden to use his existing authority to reinforce protections for Dreamers, including granting TPS for Dreamers from Central American countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Democratic leadership in the Senate must also bring legislation for a vote that would finally give Dreamers permanent protections. This is the moment for true bipartisanship — for us to show the American people we can still deliver real results for vulnerable communities, but it’s also equally important for the American people to know where every senator stands on protecting Dreamers.

State Sen. Annette Taddeo is a candidate for Congress in Florida’s 27th District, which includes parts of Miami-Dade County.

By Annette Taddeo