Unions Endorse Dream and Promise Act, Push for Swift Passage in Congress
Bill Would Provide Stable Futures for Our Members and a Stable Workforce for Our Industries
March 12 – Washington, DC
In response to the introduction of H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act by Reps Roybal-Allard, Velazquez, and Clarke with 130+ co-sponsors, the Working Families United Coalition released the following statement:
The Dream and American Promise Act will provide stable futures for Dreamers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and a stable workforce for America’s industries.
Passing permanent protections for Dreamers and TPS holders is in the best interest of the American people, American businesses, unions, and as equally important, for the people who wake up and go to work or school every day whose lives have been thrown into limbo by the cancellation of these programs. It should be a common sense solution for industries facing skilled labor shortages to make sure the TPS holders and Dreamers who have become trained professionals in their fields can continue their contributions instead of allowing them to be torn from their homes and their workplaces.
The economic cost of cancelling TPS would be in the billions in lost GDP, in turnover, lost Social Security contributions, and the human cost would be immeasurable. The United States does not want to see another family separation crisis.
Our unions strongly endorse the Dream and Promise Act and urge Congress to pass it immediately.
Working Families United is a coalition of seven labor unions, including the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, UNITE HERE, the Ironworkers, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Teamsters, and Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), representing four million members fighting for immigrant justice.
WFU formed in 2017 in response to the pending crisis caused by President Trump’s termination of Temporary Protected Status for 400,000 immigrant workers and their 275,000 US citizen children. Our members like Wilna Destin of UNITE HERE are part of the class-action lawsuit currently blocking the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Sudan, El Salvador, and Haiti. Donaldo Posadas of the Painters’ Union is a plaintiff in a separate case for Honduras and Nepal. Meanwhile the coalition urges Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act in the House and the Secure Act in the Senate to provide permanent protections and a path to citizenship for Dreamers and TPS holders from all affected nations.
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