WATCH: Padilla Joins Durbin to Introduce the Dream Act to Provide Permanent Protections for Dreamers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing the Dream Act of 2025. The legislation would allow noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain education, military service, or work requirements to earn lawful permanent residence and a pathway to citizenship. Padilla, Durbin, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a press conference today alongside Dreamers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and immigration experts to call on Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for the young people who contribute so much to our country and are facing the Trump Administration's unprecedented attacks.

These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential. Today's event was organized in collaboration with the Home Is Here coalition, including FWD.us, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), United We Dream, and partner organizations.

"For decades, gridlock and partisan politics have forced Dreamers to live in limbo. And under the Trump Administration, they now have to fear being swept up in Trump's cruel mass deportation campaign at any moment," said Senator Padilla. "Dreamers are our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who are proud to call America the only home they've ever known and fuel our economy. Senator Durbin has fought tirelessly for nearly 25 years to pass the Dream Act, and I'm honored to join him in calling on Congress to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for the Dreamers who contribute so much to our country."

"I first introduced the Dream Act 24 years ago, and over those years I've met hundreds of amazing young men and women-Dreamers-who are American in every sense of the word except on paper. They are teachers, nurses, doctors, and small business owners throughout our communities and in all 50 states. But because DACA hangs by a thread in the courts, and many are not covered by DACA, they live each day in fear of deportation. It is clear that only Congress can give them the stability they crave and deserve," said Senator Durbin. "This is a matter of simple American fairness and justice. To the Dreamers who have been with me in this fight: I promise to do everything in my power to fight for you and your future every day. And to Senator Murkowski, I want to thank you for your longtime support of Dreamers and your partnership in this important bipartisan effort."

The Dream Act of 2025 would allow these young people to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they:

• Came to the U.S. as children and are without lawful status;
• Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;
• Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;
• Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;
• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and
• Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.

Durbin has introduced the Dream Act every Congress since 2001 to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. Nearly 2 million Dreamers live in our country today, and as of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status.

Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress for providing long-term undocumented immigrants with pathways to citizenship or permanent legal residence. In September, Senators Padilla, Durbin, and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) led 38 Senate Democrats in pressing U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on the Trump Administration's wrongful targeting of DACA recipients in its cruel mass deportation scheme. Padilla previously introduced legislation to expand a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of long-term U.S. residents, including Dreamers. As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and mass deportation assaults intensified in Los Angeles, Padilla marked the 13th anniversary of the DACA policy by urging Congress to take immediate action to deliver permanent protections for millions of families, parents, and individuals who are increasingly at risk amid President Trump's mass deportation agenda.

Video of Senator Padilla's remarks at today's press conference is available here and can be downloaded here.

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