Bill Text: IL HJR0027 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Calls on the 116th United States Congress to pass the Dream Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-12 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech [HJR0027 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HJR0027-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, the U.S. Congress has time
and time again failed to pass the Dream Act or comprehensive
immigration reform that would protect and empower individuals
who were brought into the United States illegally as minors;
and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the State of Illinois took matters into
their own hands and enacted the Illinois Dream Act, which
granted in-state tuition and access to privately funded
scholarships to undocumented young people who, among other
things, had received a high school diploma or equivalent in the
State; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, after yet another failure by Congress to
pass comprehensive immigration reform, former President Barack
Obama signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
program to temporarily shield these so called DREAMers from
deportation; and
WHEREAS, The DACA program has allowed over 800,000 young
people, of which 42,376 are Illinois residents, the ability to
fundamentally enrich the social and cultural character of the
State of Illinois and, thus, of our nation; and

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WHEREAS, A 2016 report by the Center for American Progress
found that more than 60% of DACA recipients achieved financial
independence, and 61% reported helping their families; in
addition, DACA recipients reported increased earnings by an
average of 42%, and 70% of those in school with DACA are
pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher; and
WHEREAS, Despite these contributions to our society, on
September 5, 2017, President Donald Trump and Attorney General
Jeff Sessions announced the end of the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and
WHEREAS, Although the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has
since blocked the Trump Administration's immoral decision to
end the DACA program, it is imperative that Congress acts to
protect the inherent worth of each of the 800,000 talented
young Americans whose livelihood hangs by a thread; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois values and respects the
inherent worth of every person, regardless of their immigration
status; and
WHEREAS, Federal legislation to protect DREAMers, placing
all of the potentially immediately eligible workers on a path
to legal status, would add a total of $281 billion over 10
years to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP); therefore, be

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it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we call on the One Hundred
Sixteenth United States Congress to uphold our country's
founding values by passing the Dream Act, given that the
unwavering perseverance and resilience of immigrants have
helped make the United States of America a beacon of diversity,
inclusivity, and opportunity; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United
States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority
Leader of the United States Senate, United States Senator
Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the chair of the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, all members of the Illinois
Congressional Delegation, and the President of the United
States.