Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed two provisions authored by Rep. Pete Aguilar to protect DACA recipients and allow them to serve their communities. The first amends the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2020 by adding a provision that prohibits the detention and deportation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, so long as they still meet all eligibility requirements for DACA status. The second, which was included in the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, allows DACA recipients to become eligible for federal employment.  

“The American people overwhelmingly support establishing protections for DACA recipients, and it’s time for our government to offer that same support. Dreamers deserve to know they won’t be suddenly uprooted from the place they’ve called home for most of their lives, and they deserve the chance to serve and improve that home. That’s what these amendments were about, and I look forward to seeing them pass when these bills go to the House floor for a final vote,” said Aguilar.

“DACA recipients are American in every way, and every American will benefit from their service to our nation. Just as we did with the passage of the Dream and Promise Act, House Democrats are once again leading the way to expand opportunity for Dreamers. I applaud Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Pete Aguilar for his work on these vital provisions,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey.

“As chair of the DHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I am pleased that our Appropriations Committee has accepted Congressman Aguilar’s provision that protects DACA recipients and helps them contribute their talents and perspectives to our nation.  Our DACA recipients love America and call it their home, and I’ve fought for their future by introducing the Dream and Promise Act – whose passage Congressman Aguilar was instrumental in securing.  I thank him for his crucial contributions in our fight to ensure our country benefits from the views and skills of these young Americans,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.

After leading a bipartisan effort to provide permanent protection and a path to citizenship for Dreamers in the 115^th Congress, Rep. Aguilar has remained a tireless advocate for DACA recipients, passing similar amendments to protect Dreamers in 2018. In addition to cosponsoring and voting to pass the Dream and Promise Act, Aguilar has used his positions as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and as a Chief Deputy Whip in the House Democratic Caucus to stand up for Dreamers in the wake of the Trump Administration’s decision to end DACA in 2017.