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Fight for the American Dream Act
12/15/2023, 3:55 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1451
The bill outlines a series of requirements that Dreamers must meet in order to be eligible for this pathway to citizenship. These requirements include passing a background check, completing high school or obtaining a GED, and pursuing higher education, employment, or military service. Dreamers must also demonstrate good moral character and have been continuously present in the United States since a certain date.
If passed, the Fight for the American Dream Act would provide Dreamers with a temporary protected status, allowing them to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation. After a certain period of time, Dreamers would be eligible to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship. Supporters of the bill argue that Dreamers have grown up in the United States and consider it their home, and should be given the opportunity to fully contribute to society. They also argue that providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers is in line with American values of fairness and opportunity. Opponents of the bill, on the other hand, argue that providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants rewards illegal behavior and encourages further illegal immigration. They also raise concerns about the potential strain on resources and services that could result from granting citizenship to a large number of individuals. Overall, the Fight for the American Dream Act is a controversial piece of legislation that has sparked debate on both sides of the political spectrum. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain as lawmakers continue to discuss and negotiate the details of the bill.
Congressional Summary of HR 1451
Fight for the American Dream Act
This bill authorizes an individual to enlist in the Armed Forces if that individual has employment authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. (The program, often referred to as DACA, allows certain individuals without lawful immigration status and who arrived in the United States as children to temporarily remain in the United States, subject to various requirements and limitations.)
An individual who has enlisted in the Armed Forces under this bill shall receive lawful permanent resident status, if the individual is otherwise eligible for such status. The bill waives certain grounds of inadmissibility related to unlawful entry for such individuals. If such an individual receives a discharge from the Armed Forces that is not an honorable discharge before completing a period of obligated service, the Department of Homeland Security must rescind that individual's lawful permanent resident status.

