Featured Issue: Citizenship and Protections for Dreamers and Others Without Permanent Status
Many immigrants who lack permanent legal status have lived in the United States for years, investing in their communities and families, building businesses, and contributing billions to the economy. Polls show Americans support granting permanent legal status for unauthorized immigrants and people with temporary status. Four out of five (80%) of Americans support granting permanent legal status to Dreamers. AILA urges Congress to provide a path to citizenship for people who are undocumented or whose legal status is temporary.
On December 4, 2025, Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced the Dream Act of 2025. In response, Executive Director Ben Johson said:
“At a time when immigration is often cast as a divisive issue, the American people are remarkably united: four out of five Americans believe Dreamers are part of the fabric of this nation and deserve a real path to citizenship. Congress and the President must seize this moment. Passing the Dream Act is not only the right thing to do; it is a critical first step toward providing long-overdue stability and dignity to people who have strengthened our communities and contributed to our country for years, yet still have no meaningful way to secure permanent legal status.”
AILA supports the following bills and urges Congress to introduce and enact them into law.
- The Dream Act of 2025 S.3348 - Durbin (D-IL) and Murkowski (R-AK)
- Read Senator Durbin’s press release on the bill’s reintroduction
- The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 H.R.1589 - Garcia (D-TX)
Protecting DACA and TPS Recipients
On June 15, 2012, DHS announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided temporary protection from deportation (deferred action) for certain undocumented youth. Since its creation, DACA has protected over 830,000 people who are valued members of our communities and contribute to the strength of the nation. From day one, the DACA program was challenged in court and still hangs in the balance. The President should defend and expand DACA and other legal pathways to protect Dreamers and other populations who still do not have permanent status.
AILA urges President Trump to use executive branch authorities to protect and expand legal pathways for undocumented immigrants, DACA and TPS recipients, and others with a temporary status.
Browse the Featured Issue: Citizenship and Protections for Dreamers and Others Without Permanent Status collection
USCIS Provides Information and FAQs on the DACA January 2018 Preliminary Injunction
USCIS provides guidance and FAQs on the preliminary injunctions issued by district courts on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. USCIS is not accepting new requests but is accepting renewal requests and operated on the terms in place before the program was rescinded on 9/5/17.
Congressional Report: Economic Impact of DACA – Spotlight on Small Business
On 2/21/18, the Democrats of the Committee on Small Business Committee published a report on the economic impact of DACA. The report demonstrates the important role that DACA recipients play in macroeconomic contributions, tax contributions, consumer spending power, and entrepreneurship.
Senate Bipartisan Efforts to Save Dreamers Destroyed by Veto Threat
AILA expressed deep disappointment in the failure of the Senate to pass commonsense reforms to protect Dreamers. At the same time, AILA commends the many senators who stood firm against the nativist voices demanding legislation to gut legal immigration and make our country weaker.
Resources To Prepare for Raids and Other Immigration Enforcement Actions
AILA, along with NGO partners, compiled a one-pager on how to prepare for immigration raids. Resources include links to Know Your Rights handouts, toolkits, how to find a detainee, information on filing a complaint, reporting enforcement actions to advocacy organizations, and more.
Sign-On Letter to Congress Regarding Unaccompanied Children and Asylum Seekers
On 2/14/18, AILA joined 99 other organizations in a letter urging Congress to support the Dream Act and vote against proposals that would punish asylum seekers and vulnerable immigrant children. These harmful proposals would violate due process for asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors.
USCIS Not Accepting DACA Requests from Individuals Never Granted DACA
USCIS announced that the scope of the 2/13/18 preliminary injunction is the same as the preliminary injunction issued on 1/9/18. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided, the DACA policy will continue to be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on 9/5/17.
The Senate Debate Begins: Let Your Voice Be Heard
In this blog post, Mo Goldman, member of AILA's Media Advocacy Committee, highlights the current debate in the Senate on immigration and urges AILA members and the public to get involved and engage on this issue by making their voices heard as the debate ramps up.
Sign-On Letter Urging Congress to Pass the Dream Act and Reject the White House Proposal
On 2/13/18, AILA joined 268 other organizations in a letter calling on Congress to enact permanent protections for Dreamers and reject the White House’s immigration proposal. The letter states that “protecting Dreamers cannot come at the cost of harming other immigrants or immigrant communities.”
District Court in New York Issues Nationwide Injunction Against Rescission of the DACA Program
The district court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction ordering the government to maintain the DACA program on the same terms and conditions that existed prior to the 9/5/17 DACA rescission memo, subject to certain limitations. (New York v. Trump, 2/13/18)
Congressional Black Caucus Rejects the President’s Immigration Proposal
On 2/12/18, the Congressional Black Caucus wrote a letter to President Trump expressing their opposition to the President’s immigration proposal. They specifically rejected the proposed elimination of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
House Minority Leaders Request Speaker Ryan Schedule a Vote to Protect Dreamers
On 2/8/18, House minority leaders Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and James Clyburn (D-SC) wrote a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) requesting he assure the scheduling of a vote on a DACA bill. They mentioned that Democrats have supported a budget agreement to keep the government open.
Coalition for the American Dream Opposes H.R. 4760
On 2/8/18, the Coalition for the American Dream, of which AILA is a member, sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress declaring opposition to H.R. 4760: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018, which does not provide a permanent workable legislative solution for Dreamers.
Deal or No Deal, We Stand With the Dreamers
AILA National Treasurer Allen Orr describes the current efforts to protect Dreamers and urges the administration to get behind legislation with bipartisan support that makes sense both fiscally and morally, rather than forcing a stalemate that could result in the deportation of Dreamers.
S. 2367 Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act of 2018
On 2/5/18, Senators Christopher Coons (D-DE) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the Uniting and Securing America Act of 2018 (S. 2367) to provide adjustment of status for DACA recipients, improve border security, and reduce delays in immigration court, among other things.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest DACA Recipients
CBP announced that on 1/31/18, Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican national identified as a recipient for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, attempting to smuggle two undocumented immigrants into the United States.
USCIS Provides Data on Approximate Count of DACA Receipts As of January 2018
USCIS provided data on approximate count of DACA receipts since 1/10/18, as of 1/31/18.
USCIS Provides Data on Active DACA Recipients as of January 31, 2018
USCIS provided data on active DACA recipients as of January 31, 2018, by country of birth, by state or territory of residence, by core based statistical area, by gender, by age, and by marital status.
USCIS Provides Approximate Number of Active DACA Recipients as of January 31, 2018
USCIS provided data on the approximate number of active DACA recipients, broken by month and year of their current DACA expiration date, as of January 31, 2018.
USCIS Provides Data on Pending DACA Applications as of January 31, 2018
USCIS provided data on the approximate number of DACA renewals pending with expired DACA and the approximate number of DACA initial applications pending, as of January 31, 2018.
Border Patrol Agents Arrest DACA Recipient
CBP announced that Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican national in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, after he allegedly attempted to smuggle four other Mexican nationals into the United States on January 29, 2018.
CBP Arrests Two DACA Recipients for Involvement in Human Smuggling
CBP announced that in two separate incidents, Border Patrol agents arrested two men present in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order for their involvement in human smuggling incidents in January 2018.
AILA Quicktake #232: White House Immigration Proposal
AILA's Director of Government Relations Greg Chen responds to the White House immigration reform proposal that would provide a path to citizenship for some Dreamers in exchange for border wall funding and family reunification restrictions.
People Are Stepping Up to Help with DACA Fees
In this blog post, AILA member Kara Lynum shares how the public is supporting DACA recipients by covering the filing fee for renewal applications, highlighting the recent example of an impromptu campaign that has brought in more than $23,000 thus far to hep Dreamers in Minnesota.
White House Releases Its Framework on Immigration Reform and Border Security
The White House released its “framework on immigration reform and border security,” including reforms on border security, DACA legalization, and changes to family-based immigration.
White House Appeals to Nativist Base with Anti-Immigrant Proposal
AILA denounced the latest iteration of the Trump administration’s proposal on immigration as destructive and untenable.