We Need to Dream Big for Dreamers

The 2001 DREAM Act did not make it past the finish line and saddled an entire generation of young immigrants with uncertainty. The path to citizenship for people who grew up in the United States, studied in our schools, and contributed to our communities, was upended. Decades later, we are still seeing the consequences. The defeat of a measured and humane policy, set forth by a Republican President with bipartisan support, continues to reverberate. 

Temporary executive actions, such as DACA, have offered limited protection to undocumented children brought to the United States. But executive orders remain vulnerable to the presidential tug o’ war and judicial intervention.¹ What we need now is a sustainable legislative solution that recognizes Dreamers’ and the nation’s interest in allowing them to thrive.

Legislation should be passed that comprehensively addresses this issue by establishing a clear path to citizenship for those children who were brought to the United States as children and call this their home. This includes meaningful protection from deportation, access to temporary work visas and a responsible, and achievable path to lawful permanent residence, and ultimately citizenship. Anything less leaves millions in limbo and keeps the country from benefiting from their full legal participation in our economy. Congress should finally deliver the stability that Dreamers have been denied for far too long.

In a July 2026 Gallup poll on immigration issues, a majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans responded that they favor or strongly favor some path to citizenship for children whose parents are undocumented immigrants. Over 80% of respondents favor a path to legal status for these young people if they meet certain conditions.² Conditions that have appeared in most bills that address this issue are human capital development, such as completing high school and pursuing college or trade school, service in the Armed Forces, or being consistently employed, and not having criminal history or outstanding tax debt. 

Run Down the Middle supports resurrecting the American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 to put nearly 3 million immigrants brought to this country as children on the path to legal status and citizenship. The act creates a two-step process from conditional to lawful permanent residence status, requiring either educational development, service in the armed forces, or consistent employment, as well as lack of criminal history or action and a good tax record.³

Over a 15-year process, Dreamers could be on the path to citizenship. Having passed the House twice during the 116^th and 117^th Congresses, this act has bipartisan appeal.⁴ Coupled with a secure border moving forward, this bipartisan bill can create a path to citizenship for children that call the United States their home.

Sources

1. National Immigration Forum. “Current Status of DACA: Explainer.” National Immigration Forum, 11 Aug. 2025, https://forumtogether.org/article/current-status-of-daca-explainer/. ↩︎
2. Brenan, Megan. “Americans’ Support for Immigration down, Still Strong.” Gallup.Com, Gallup, 9 July 2026, https://news.gallup.com/poll/712289/americans-support-immigration-down-strong.aspx. ↩︎
3. National Immigration Forum. “American Dream and Promise Act of 2023: Bill Summary.” National Immigration Forum, 24 July 2023, https://forumtogether.org/article/american-dream-and-promise-act-of-2023-bill-summary/ ↩︎
4. National Immigration Forum. “American Dream and Promise Act of 2023: Bill Summary.” National Immigration Forum, 24 July 2023, https://forumtogether.org/article/american-dream-and-promise-act-of-2023-bill-summary/ ↩︎

About the author

Michael Stage

Economics and political science out of DePaul, by way of Austin. Believes in a government that is responsive because it is built to be.