Rep. Stanton says passing Dream and Promise Act ‘makes perfect sense’

PHOENIX — U.S Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona says passing the bill House Democrats introduced Tuesday that could put 2.5 million immigrants on a path to citizenship “makes perfect sense.”

HR 6 would allow those who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and immigrants with temporary humanitarian protections to apply for permanent legal status.

“It’s called the Dream and Promise Act that will provide a permanent solution —  citizenship —  for our DACA recipients, as well as those with temporary protected status,” Stanton told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

“I’ve long believed that we do need a Dream Act to provide these young people, these young leaders, their full position as leaders in our community. The only way we can do that is by providing them a long-term path here in our country through citizenship.”

Dreamers are Americans in every way that counts. It’s time to recognize that & provide these patriotic Americans with a pathway to citizenship. 🇺🇸#ProtectTheDream #HR6 pic.twitter.com/m1LdsFDhCv

— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) March 12, 2019

All five of Arizona’s House Democrats cosponsored the bill.

Stanton said the bill is not only important for humanitarian reasons, but also the country’s economic growth.

“We will grow economically by almost $300 billion by passing the Dream Act and for the recipients of temporary protected status, they’re important to our economy as well — over $150 billion of value added to our economy by ensuring those people do not get deported,” he said.

“So it’s the right thing do on a human level, to help these young people who have been here in Arizona virtually their entire life … and it’s also good for our local economy.”

Stanton said he hopes passing the bill would allow young immigrants in the U.S. to become leaders.

He invited Ellie Perez, the first DACA recipient to be employed by the city of Phoenix, to be his guest at the State of the Union last month.

“People should try to put themselves in a Dreamer’s shoes, having been brought here as a young person through no choice of their own, having grown up here, building bonds here, going to school here — Arizona is their home,” he said.

“The Dream Act will allow these people to become citizens of the United States of America and be fully able to engage in our economy, pay taxes, achieve their dreams. It’s great for them, and it’s great for all of us.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.