Today, HRC called on Congress to pass H.R. 6, the American and Dream and Promise Act, which would offer a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders.

“Dreamers, TPS and DED holders are our colleagues, our classmates, and our community members, including approximately 75,000 Dreamers who are LGBTQ,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs Director. “They live in every state in our nation, and in every congressional district. They contribute to our economy and want to be part of our nation. It is crucially important that Congress give them certainty and security to stay here in the U.S. and continue contributing to our nation.”

Dreamers are undocumented young people who immigrated to the United States as minors, who often do not even remember living in any country outside the United States. It is estimated that there are approximately 75,000 Dreamers living in the United States who are LGBTQ. For many of these LGBTQ Dreamers, being deported back to their country of origin would be particularly dangerous because those countries often have higher levels of anti-LGBTQ violence and even laws that criminalize LGBTQ people. It is imperative that Congress find a solution to recognize and protect all Dreamers.

While the previous administration had created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to provide a legal avenue for Dreamers to stay in the United States, the current Administration has sought to end DACA, and also to strip status from TPS holders and DED holders. Their efforts are creating enormous uncertainty and difficulty for millions of people living in the U.S., and for their families abroad.

The Human Rights Campaign will continue to fight alongside coalition partners in ensuring our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers are not pushed out of the only country they’ve ever truly known.

Read the letter calling Congress to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, here.