Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that his amendment to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to work in the federal government was included in the 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, which was reported out of the subcommittee on Monday, June 3, 2019. A longtime advocate for Dreamers, Rep. Aguilar fought to include the language in the text of this year’s bill after the same language was passed by a bipartisan vote in the Appropriations Committee in 2017, only to be stripped from the final bill text by Republican leadership. The same amendment was voted down by Republicans in 2018.

“DACA recipients represent the best and brightest in our country, but our broken immigration system has barred them from public service. These young people, who have known no other country as their home, deserve the chance to improve their communities and serve their country through federal employment. I look forward to the work ahead as we ensure this provision becomes law,” said Rep. Aguilar.

“Dreamers deserve every opportunity to contribute to the success of our nation. With our fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills, House Democrats are leading the way to open up the doors of public service to DACA recipients. This effort would not have been possible without Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Pete Aguilar’s unwavering support for Dreamers. I am proud to work alongside a tenacious advocate like Pete on this critical issue,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey.

“Too many dedicated young people have been denied the opportunity to serve the only country they’ve ever known by unnecessary restrictions. I’m proud to have worked with Congressman Aguilar on this important provision to ensure that everyone who wants to dedicate their careers to serving our nation through the federal government, can,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Chairman Mike Quigley.

An advocate for Dreamers, Rep. Aguilar has worked across the aisle to pass language to prevent the deportation of DACA recipients since President Trump decided to end the program in 2017. In 2018, Rep. Aguilar passed two amendments to protect DACA recipients from deportation. The first amendment prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from deporting DACA recipients who have served or are currently serving in the US Military. The second prohibits the deportation of DACA recipients more broadly, so long as they are in good standing and still meet all the requirements of eligibility for the DACA program. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and as a Chief Deputy Whip in the House Democratic Caucus.