Washington, DC – Today UNITE HERE applauded the introduction of two bills introduced in the United States Senate that would provide legal status and an earned pathway to citizenship for 400,000 people with TPS and DED, and up to 2 million ‘Dreamers’. The two bills are similar to those introduced in the last Congress, and follows the introduction of the Dream and Promise Act in the House, which creates a similar pathway for TPS and DACA holders in a combined bill.

“Millions of immigrant families work hard every day to realize the American dream, and pour their labor, lives, and activism into all that makes this country great – including the many UNITE HERE members on TPS and DACA whose labor is the backbone of tourism economies across the nation,” said D. Taylor, International President of UNITE HERE.  “It’s time that we have an immigration system that works for everyone, not just the rich, and for a pathway to permanency and citizenship for the all workers on TPS and DACA.”

The bipartisan Dream Act, introduced by Senators Durbin and Graham, has a key companion bill in the Senate’s Secure Act which is sponsored by Senators Van Hollen, Cardin, and Feinstein, and champions the equally important TPS program. TPS provides work authorizations to nearly 400,000 immigrant workers in America, including many in the trades, service, and hospitality sectors. Many TPS holders have lived in America for decades after immigrating from countries torn apart by natural disaster, war, disease or economic hardship.

The termination of TPS for 400,000 workers came in 2017-18 as an early move by Trump’s Department of Homeland Security which resulted in multiple lawsuits and left TPS holders in limbo. UNITE HERE is deeply committed to justice for immigrant workers, and is proud to be a founding member of the largest labor coalition for TPS justice, Working Families United.

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UNITE HERE represents over 270,000 members working in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at www.unitehereimmigration.org