{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-celebrates-final-introduction-of-the-dream-act-with-local-immigration-advocates", "Durbin Celebrates Final Introduction Of The Dream Act With Local Immigration Advocates", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Durbin has introduced the Dream Act every Congress since 2001; this week marks his final introduction of the legislation before the end of his congressional career\n\nCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined The Resurrection Project and other Chicago immigration advocacy groups to celebrate the introduction the bipartisan Dream Act of 2025, which 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. 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.\n\n\u201cFor more than three months, Chicago has endured President Trump\u2019s \u2018Operation Midway Blitz\u2019 \u2013 a cruel campaign that has swept up innocent citizens, legal residents, and immigrants who pose absolutely no threat to public safety,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI am grateful for the community organizations that have stepped up in the face of violence, and I hope that today\u2019s celebration of the Dream Act provides a tiny bright spot in an otherwise dark year. I first introduced this bill 24 years ago, and over those years I\u2019ve met hundreds of amazing young men and women\u2014Dreamers\u2014who are American in every sense of the word except on paper. 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. This is a matter of simple American fairness and justice. To the Dreamers here in Chicago and across our country 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.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor more than a century, Dominican University has served the children of immigrants, welcoming and supporting students whose families came to this country seeking opportunity. We continue to stand firm in this legacy today as we accompany Dreamers from across the nation in their pursuit of education and vocation. Their success not only enriches our community and strengthens our campus environment but also contributes to local economic growth and development, filling roles of critical need,\u201d said Glena Temple, Ph.D., President, Dominican University.\n\n\u201cDreamers are law-abiding, tax-paying contributors who are essential to the strength of our economy and communities. Their work generates billions in tax revenue and supports businesses across the country. Removing these essential workers would not only disrupt our workplaces and neighborhoods but also undermine America\u2019s global competitiveness. We urge Congress to seize this opportunity to deliver lasting solutions that secure our workforce and offer stability to our communities,\u201d said Rebecca Shi, CEO of American Business Immigration Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe Resurrection Project applauds the bipartisan reintroduction of the Dream Act of 2025. Dreamers enrich the social and economic fabric of this nation. For over two decades, champions like Senator Durbin have lifted our voices when others tried to silence them. Immigrants are under attack, and we can't afford to wait any longer. Congress must seize this moment and pass the Dream Act once and for all,\u201d said Ere Rendon, Vice President of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project.\n\nThe Dream Act of 2025, introduced with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), would allow these young people to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they:\n\nCame to the U.S. as children and are without lawful status;\n\nGraduate from high school or obtain a GED;\n\nPursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;\n\nPass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;\n\nDemonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and\n\nHave not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.\n\nBeginning in 2001, Durbin introduced the Dream Act to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. He has introduced the legislation every Congress since. Over the years, Durbin has told the stories of 150 Dreamers on the Senate Floor. In 2012, Durbin worked with then-President Obama to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to allow these young people to gain temporary status. As of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "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://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-celebrates-final-introduction-of-the-dream-act-with-local-immigration-advocates"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3406819198280573, "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"}