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Press Release // Immigration and Asylum

LIRS urges House to pass the American Dream and Promise Act

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LIRS Staff

March 17, 2021

Contact: Timothy Young | tyoung@lirs.org | 443-257-6310

Washington D.C. – Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the nation’s largest faith-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to serving vulnerable immigrant communities in the U.S., called upon the House of Representatives to pass the American Dream and Promise Act. The legislation is slated to be voted on Thursday, March 18th, and would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and individuals with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

The following is a statement by Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:

“It is well past time that we enshrine in law the protection our immigrant neighbors have fought so long for. Their movement has transformed the hearts of Americans, who overwhelmingly support providing a path to lawful permanent residency and citizenship.

Dreamers, TPS, and DED holders’ homes are here. They are essential members of workforces, congregations, and families across the United States. To deny them their rightful place in these communities is not only cruel, it’s nonsensical. Add to that their invaluable contributions on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and it becomes nothing short of unconscionable.

There is a real opportunity to reach across the aisle and make this the bipartisan achievement the vast majority of Americans wish to see. There is still so much work to put into repairing our dysfunctional immigration system, but this legislation would be a monumental step in the right direction. We urge Congress to work together towards the swift passage of this historic bill.”

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