U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced on the Senate floor that he and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will introduce the Dream Act of 2025. The legislation is intended to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence for noncitizens without legal status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain requirements in education, military service, or employment.
Durbin has introduced similar versions of this legislation every Congress since 2001. He explained, “It was 24 years ago that I introduced a measure called the Dream Act… These young immigrants [were] brought to the United States as children. Like millions of American children… [they] grew up dreaming of getting their first job, passing their driver’s license test, and applying to college. But they had a problem. Under the current law, they were not legal to do those things. So the Dream Act gives them a chance, if brought to the United States as children, [to] have a path to citizenship after earning their way in a rather long and rigorous process.”
He also noted bipartisan support from previous years: “It was 2001 when I first introduced bipartisan legislation to provide Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship. My cosponsor was Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, who was then the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee… I’m sad to say that more than two decades later, Dreamers are still waiting for that bill to pass.”
Durbin referenced his efforts in 2010 with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) asking President Obama to halt deportations of Dreamers. In response, President Obama created DACA thirteen years ago. Since then, over 830,000 individuals have benefited from DACA by contributing as professionals across various sectors.
“Sadly, since President Obama established the program, many Republicans have waged a relentless campaign to overturn DACA and deport these Dreamers back to countries they left as infants, toddlers, and children—countries they may not even remember. Now this program is hanging by a thread in the courts, due to legal challenges from Republican state attorneys general. And many Dreamers, even those who have protections under DACA, have been caught up in deportation raids by the Trump Administration,” Durbin said.
During his remarks Durbin shared what he described as his 150th highlighted story about a Dreamer on the Senate floor: Any Lucia Lopez Belloza. She came from Honduras at age eight and excelled academically in high school before earning a merit scholarship at Babson College in Massachusetts. After traveling home for Thanksgiving break she was detained at Boston Logan Airport due to an issue with her ticket; despite a federal court order blocking her transfer or deportation for 72 hours she was quickly deported back to Honduras.
“You remember the President’s campaign and rallies and how often he stood before cheering crowds and said it’s time to stop the rapists, murderers, terrorists, and criminally insane from flowing into this nation? The ‘worst of the worst,’ he repeated over and over again. Does this young lady look like the ‘worst of the worst’? The answer is clearly no,” Durbin said. “Ms. Lopez Belloza is one of countless Dreamers who have great potential to make this a better country. They’re not asking for a free ride. They are hardworking and determined… It’s that kind of determination, talent, and skill that should be part of this country’s future. She’s going to be someday, I’m sure, a leader in America, a small business owner, a teacher,[or]a doctor.”
Durbin concluded his remarks by emphasizing urgency: “The time to pass the Dream Act is now. That is why I’m proud to announce I’ll be reintroducing the Dream Act this week on a bipartisan basis with my good friend and colleague Senator Lisa Murkowski... While I’ve introduced the Dream Act in every Congress since 2001,this one is different.This is my last year in the Senate.This is my last opportunity as a Senator tomake itthe law...To thoseDreamers,I promise todo everythinginmypowertofightforyouandyourfutureeverydayI’mhere.AsIsaidtoyoumanytimes,I’mnotgivinguponyou.Don’tgiveuponme.ToSenatorMurkowski thank you.It took courageto cosponsor this bill,andIwillneverforgetit.Canwegetto workonabipartisanbasisandagreeifwe’regoingtokeepsafeborders,wealsowanttomakesuretherightimmigrantsarehereforourfuture?Anyisoneofthosepeople.Withoutdueprocess,shewassentbacktoHonduras.Herfateisstilluncertaindespiteacourtorder.ButtherearehundredsofthousandslikeherthatwithenoughdeterminationhardworkandopportunitycanmakeAmericaagreaternation.Sheismy150thDreamer.Ihopeshe’spartofAmericaforyearstocome.”
Video footage along with audio recordings of Durbin's speech are available online.
