Congressman Cleaver Votes to Protect Dreamers, TPS Recipients, and Farmworkers With Two Historic Immigration Bills

Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) -- Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of two landmark pieces of legislation to modernize our immigration system and secure permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are, and will continue to be, critical to America's economic recovery. H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which Cleaver was a cosponsor of, would provide relief to roughly 700,000 Dreamers, in addition to many Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, would provide stability, predictability, and fairness to the farmworkers who have kept food on the table for American families during the pandemic. Both bills were passed today with bipartisan support by the House of Representatives and will now go to the Senate.

"Our immigrant neighbors play pivotal roles in communities throughout the Fifth District of Missouri and across the nation," said Congressman Cleaver. "From farmworkers to first responders, Dreamers, TPS recipients, DED holders, and immigrants from all walks of life have been essential in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. For their dedication to the nation in its hour of need, we must demonstrate our sincere gratitude by passing these historic and overwhelmingly popular bills that ensure these proud individuals can continue to pursue the American dream."

The American Dream and Promise Act would:

Establish a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers and for certain individuals who either held or were eligible for TPS or DED, the majority of which have been in the United States for much of their lives.
Allow individuals to apply for citizenship after having obtained LPR status for five years.
Promote fairness and justice for Dreamers, TPS recipients, and DED holders who have been contributing to our economy and our communities for years, including in industries that often struggle to find sufficient U.S. workers.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would:

Stabilize the agricultural sector by ensuring that farmers can meet their labor needs by establishing a program where agricultural workers, their spouses, and minor children can earn legal Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status through continued agricultural employment.
Reform the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers.
Establish a mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system to ensure compliance with the reformed H-2A visa program while also protecting workers' due process rights.
"The time has come for Congress to provide solutions to our nation's broken immigration system that will keep Americans safe while ensuring migrants receive the respect and dignity that every human being deserves," said Congressman Cleaver. "Today, I was proud to stand up for the countless immigrants who are invaluable to communities throughout my congressional district, and I will continue to fight for them until they receive the protections they have earned through their commitment to our nation."

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