Ask Congress to support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers
The ELCA has long supported protections for people brought to the United States as children, known as “Dreamers.” Dreamers are integral members of our families, churches and communities, yet for decades have lived in limbo without the long-term solution of permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship. For over 525,000 Dreamers, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provides work authorization and should protect recipients from deportation, but the program has been largely closed to new applicants since 2017, leaving many individuals without even these temporary and limited protections.
In 2001, Congress first introduced the Dream Act, which would provide permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. The bipartisan bill was reintroduced last year by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as the Dream Act of 2025. The American Dream and Promise Act introduced last year in the House would provide protections for Dreamers and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
Support for protections for Dreamers is particularly urgent as DACA recipients have been detained and in some cases deported, separated from their families and the only home some have ever known.
As ELCA social message “Immigration” reminds us, we are encouraged to “Welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). This is the moment to advocate for our neighbors and for stability and protection for our entire communities.
Ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor and champion legislation protecting Dreamers and to continue to work for dignity, protection and rights for immigrants.
[Posted: 3/6/2026]
