{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://ross.house.gov/2025/9/ross-padilla-miller-meeks-paul-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-protect-documented-dreamers", "Ross, Padilla, Miller-Meeks, Paul, & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Protect Documented Dreamers", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Deborah K. Ross", "R000305", "ross.house.gov", "ross", "https://ross.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Deborah Ross (Deborah Ross (NC-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Ami Bera (CA-06), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced their bipartisan America\u2019s CHILDREN Act. This legislation will protect the dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders, including Documented Dreamers, from aging out of the system when they turn 21, forcing them to self-deport. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nOver 250,000 children and young adults are living in the United States as dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers). These individuals grow up in the United States, attend American schools, and graduate from American universities. Because they have maintained legal status, Documented Dreamers are not eligible for protection under DACA or the work authorization that comes with it.\n\n\u201cDocumented Dreamers are members of our communities \u2013 they study at our schools, learn alongside our children, and attend our houses of worship in North Carolina and nationwide,\u201d said Congresswoman Ross. \u201cDespite these deep ties, many of them are at risk of deportation from the country they love and call home. It\u2019s time to finally fix our broken immigration system and give these inspiring young people a chance to pursue their dreams and give back to their communities. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in both chambers to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure Documented Dreamers can remain in this country and use their talents and skills to make America stronger.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese Documented Dreamers are Americans in every way except one: their parent\u2019s green card is tied up in red tape,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThis long overdue change is about more than just immigration reform \u2014 it\u2019s about righting a wrong that\u2019s a byproduct of our outdated immigration system. Our bipartisan bill would prevent these hardworking young members of our communities and economy from \u2018aging out\u2019 of their parents\u2019 visa status when they turn 21, and create additional green card opportunities for Documented Dreamers. I appreciate the partnership of my colleagues across the aisle and urge others to stand up and do the right thing for these young Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese children who have legally called the United States home for many years and even decades, are contributing members in our communities and to our economy. They shouldn\u2019t be penalized by the government\u2019s failures in addressing green card backlogs,\u201d said Dr. Paul. \u201cThe America\u2019s Children Act provides targeted relief for these children of merit-based immigrants who are at risk of \u2018aging out\u2019 of their lawful immigration status, and I\u2019m pleased to join Sen. Padilla in introducing this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor many Documented Dreamers, the United States is the only country they\u2019ve ever known,\u201d said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. \u201cThey\u2019ve grown up here, went to school here, and are ready to start their careers here. By forcing these young people to self-deport at age 21, we\u2019re not only robbing our country of their talents, we\u2019re also denying the next generation their chance at the American Dream they deserve. It\u2019s time to fix our broken immigration system, and that starts with protecting our neighbors who grew up here.\u201d\n\n\u201cSacramento County is the proud home of Documented Dreamers who contribute to our community as neighbors, friends, educators, scientists, and doctors,\u201d said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. \u201cYet more than 250,000 children of nonimmigrant visa holders\u2014who grew up here, followed the rules, and know no other home\u2014face the threat of self-deportation because of our broken immigration system. These young people are part of the fabric of our country, and it is our moral responsibility to provide them a clear pathway to permanent residency. I\u2019m proud to join Representative Ross and Senator Padilla in introducing the America's CHILDREN Act to safeguard their futures and give them the peace of mind they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cFar too many young people who have grown up in the United States legally, studying in our schools, and contributing to our economy, are at risk of \u2018aging out\u2019 of legal status through no fault of their own\u201d, said Rep. Maria Salazar. \u201cI am proud to co-lead the America\u2019s Children Act, which protects the children of long-term visa holders and ensures their skills and talents stay here to build America\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cDocumented Dreamers are young people with legal status that grew up in the United States, studied here, and have contributed to our communities. However, at 21 years old they face the prospect of being forced to leave the only home they know. We must ensure an outdated immigration system does not punish these young people from pursuing their own American Dream,\u201d said Congressman Ciscomani. \u201cThe bipartisan America\u2019s Children Act provides stability for families, strengthens our workforce, and reaffirms our nation\u2019s commitment to fairness and opportunity. I\u2019m proud to join colleagues from both parties in supporting these young men and women as they pursue a future in our country where they grew up.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to the bipartisan leaders reintroducing America\u2019s Children Act. Fixing this loophole puts in place a policy most Americans assume already exists and ensures that America reaps the benefits of the contributions from the children it raised and educated. Allowing children of long-term visa holders to stay will empower people to tap into their talents and ambitions, helping us and our country reach our fullest potential. We urge Congress to act swiftly and pass the America\u2019s Children Act,\u201d said Dip Patel, Founder of Improve The Dream.\n\nThe America\u2019s CHILDREN Act would:\n\nAllow individuals to obtain permanent residency if they were brought to the United States as dependent children of workers admitted under employment visas, have maintained status in the United States for 10 years (including eight years as dependents), and have graduated from an institution of higher education;\n\nProtect any child who has been in the United States for an aggregate of eight years before the age of 21 as a dependent of an employment-based nonimmigrant by allowing them to remain a dependent on their parent\u2019s nonimmigrant visa until they can find another status;\n\nEstablish age-out protections that lock in a child\u2019s age on the date on which their parents file for a green card;\n\nProvide work authorization for individuals qualifying for age-out protection.\n\nBill text is available here. A one-pager is available here.\n\nThe Congressmembers were joined by Representatives Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Don Bacon (NE-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Scott Peters (CA-50), John Rutherford (FL-05), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Zachary Nunn (IA-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Dave Min (CA-47) as cosponsors in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).\n\nThe bill is endorsed by organizations including Improve the Dream, Americans For Prosperity, Niskanen Center, The Libre Initiative, National Immigration Forum, and Council on National Security and Immigration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://ross.house.gov/2025/9/ross-padilla-miller-meeks-paul-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-protect-documented-dreamers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1115819215774536, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}