KEY VOTE “NO” on the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6)

This week, in the midst of a historic border crisis that includes thousands of unaccompanied alien children, the House will vote on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This legislation would codify and expand amnesty granted by the Obama administration’s unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by allowing so-called Dreamers (illegal aliens who came to the U.S. before the age of 18) and those illegally present who have been granted Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure to permanently avoid deportation, obtain a pathway to citizenship, and full voting rights. Do not let this legislation’s misleading name fool you—granting amnesty to illegal aliens would encourage more illegal immigration, incentivize criminal behavior, reward law-breaking, and provide preferential treatment to illegal immigrants.

Despite the ongoing health concerns and travel restrictions associated with COVID-19 and rising number of illegal crossings at our southern border, House Democrats have put forward a proposal that only worsens the border crisis and ignores the concerns of law-abiding citizens. Furthermore, granting amnesty would intensify public health and humanitarian troubles while also compounding economic problems stemming from the government’s response to the pandemic. As The Heritage Foundation warns, if amnesty is granted it would cause scarce resources to be directed away from Americans towards illegal aliens, putting a strain on things like federal welfare programs and public safety resources.

The American Dream and Promise Act would also incentivize criminal behavior and lead to more crime. Starting in the summer of 2014—prompted by DACA—massive caravans began migrating to our southern border from Central America, often facilitated by coyotes and gangs that exploit women and children on the journey. Furthermore, once they arrive in the country, data shows that non-citizens accounted for 64% of all federal arrests in 2018 despite only being 7% of the nation’s population. This problem has been particularly exacerbated under the Biden Administration as promises of amnesty began drawing would-be immigrants to the border even before the election.

Instead of promising sweeping amnesty, as many on the left demand, the federal government, with the help of state and local governments, should focus on reducing the unlawfully present immigration population in the U.S. and curbing illegal entry into our country. This can be done by enforcing existing immigration laws, tightening border security, strengthening interior enforcement, and improving the legal immigration process.

Amnesties are also unfair to the millions of people worldwide who apply and wait for their turn to legally immigrate to the United States. Providing legal status to those who came here unlawfully would treat those who entered the country illegally better than those who lawfully enter the country by following America’s immigration procedures and patiently awaiting their opportunity to get a visa.

With the pandemic and the Biden Administration-created crisis at our southern border, now is not the time for Congress to bring an amnesty bill to the floor. This proposal does not help immigrants, but rather is a thinly veiled attempt by the Left to permanently solidify their majority by granting illegal immigrants amnesty in exchange for their future vote.