13 Years of DACA: Members of Congress, DACA Recipients and Allies Call for Permanent Protections Amidst Growing Hostility Against Immigrant Communities

Washington, D.C. – As ICE raids and mass deportation assaults intensify across the country, the Home is Here campaign led a national press conference today at the nation’s capital to mark the upcoming 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Joined by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and co-leads of the bipartisan American Dream & Promise Act Congresswomen Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), dozens of immigrant youth, allies, and leaders from Home is Here called attention to the glaring warning signs that the future of DACA is in peril.

Amidst deliberate efforts to stoke fear and chaos, including the militarized response to communities in Los Angeles, the 13th anniversary of DACA is a shrilling alarm that millions of people have been denied any basic ability to access permanent –and in some cases even temporary– status in this country, despite a pathway to citizenship being overwhelmingly popular. Immigrants and American citizens alike want a fair, just and humane immigration system.

Photos from the press conference can be accessed here. All credit to Home is Here campaign.

Adrien, DACA recipient and College student studying computer engineering, said:

“I am someone who takes immense pride in being raised in the United States and have always felt American in every way but on paper. And while I have every reason to feel filled with hate after being discriminated against because of my identity, or seeing the ways hard working people like my parents have had to work twice as hard than the average person just to make ends meet, I still love this country deeply. As we approach the 13th anniversary of DACA, this moment is a reminder that immigrants are integral to this country. This is our home, and we urge Congress to do what we know is possible and popular among the vast majority of Americans: deliver a pathway to citizenship now.”

Mariana, DACA recipient, said:

“For 13 years, I’ve held up my end of the bargain – to work, go to school, pay my taxes, and stay out of trouble. But for those same 13 years, politicians have dangled my future for political points, all while failing to pass a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers like me. Because of this inaction, we’ve been attacked by the President, the courts, elected officials, and states like Texas, who are trying to take away our work permits, in-state tuition, and more. At this very moment, we’re waiting for a judge to modify his decision that would affect thousands of Dreamers like me.  And that isn’t just a moral failure – it’s an economic disaster waiting to happen. The courts can’t decide our future forever. Congress must finally deliver what they’ve promised for years – a pathway to citizenship, stability, and dignity.”

Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, said:

“For 13 years, DACA has been an extraordinary success for the entire country, clearly demonstrating why the process for undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status must remain our long-term, central goal. Nearly 1 million people can live, work, and contribute openly to the only country they’ve ever called home because of DACA. It’s well past time for Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution that provides certainty to DACA recipients, Dreamers, their families, and the country that relies on them.”

Diana Pliego, Senior Campaigns Strategist at NILC, said:

“On DACA’s 13th anniversary, it is important to celebrate the wonderful things that DACA has done for our communities across the country and throughout the years. But, we always knew that it was not enough. We need Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and our entire communities. With our communities under attack in unprecedented ways, we are beyond the point of urgency. We need words to become action.”

Leo Murrieta, Executive Director with Make the Road Nevada, shared the following statement:

“As we mark the 13th anniversary of DACA, Make the Road Nevada stands with thousands of DACA recipients—and with the undocumented youth still left out—who call this country home. DACA has proven the power and promise of offering protections to immigrant communities. But it’s not enough. Year after year, we’ve seen how vulnerable the program remains, and why we need permanent protections now more than ever. Congress must act to finally deliver stability and security to our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and loved ones—because no one’s future should depend on a temporary policy.”

Iliana Perez, Executive Director of Immigrants Rising, said:

“As someone who was a DACA recipient, I know firsthand how critical this program has been in opening paths to economic mobility not just for recipients but also for our families and local communities. With DACA, recipients have been able to advance their careers as teachers, lawyers, nurses, mental health practitioners, business owners, and other valued employees. As we reflect on the thirteenth anniversary of DACA, while witnessing the militarized chaos sown in Los Angeles, we are also present to the fact that we need a more permanent solution and a pathway to citizenship for the many who call this country home and contribute to its spirit, economy, and culture. Our community has waited far too long for a working immigration system that keeps families together and treats every person regardless of their status with dignity and respect. Congress must act diligently and swiftly to work toward a solution like the Dream and Promise Act that protects the state and the people they represent.”

María Teresa Kumar, President and Co-Founder of Voto Latino, said:

“DACA was never meant to be the finish line—it was a promise, a lifeline, and a call to action. As families across the country live in renewed fear of enforcement raids, we recommit to the fight for permanent protections. Dreamers are not only essential to our communities—they represent the very best of America’s promise. It’s time for Congress to meet this moment with courage and pass lasting solutions that honor their contributions and humanity.”

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, said:

“In 2010, I sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. And thirteen years ago this week, President Obama responded—he announced the DACA program. More than 835,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. Now in their 13th year of waiting, we, the lawmakers, must honor Dreamers’ patience, act on our promises, and finally provide them a pathway to citizenship. I will continue to fight for them—and I urge my Republican colleagues to join me.”

Ranking Member Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senator Alex Padilla, said:

“This week, as we should be celebrating the 13th Anniversary of DACA, I understand the fear of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers because they feel even more at risk. In addition to being our neighbors and loved ones, Dreamers are our teachers and caregivers, nurses and doctors, small business owners and construction workers paying taxes just like the rest of us. We must pass the Dream Act to provide permanent protections for Dreamers who contribute so much to our country and economy, finally giving them the peace of mind they deserve.”

Representative Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) and Co-lead of the American Dream & Promise Act, said:

“It is past time to deliver on the American Dream & Promise Act, a bill that I am a proud sponsor of and that would finally ensure that millions of young people who are American in their hearts, souls, and minds, can have stability and dignity. This bipartisan bill has over 200 sponsors across the aisle, representing the millions of Americans who overwhelmingly support DACA and a pathway to citizenship. No matter how many bans, rollbacks, political stunts or attacks the felon in the White House throws at us, I will be here fighting for our communities and our rights. This country is powered by immigrants. Their homes are here.”

Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-03) and Co-lead of the American Dream & Promise Act, said:

“On this 13th anniversary of DACA, members of Congress must finally affirm that dreamers and immigrants are seen, valued, and integral to our communities. Every member of this body faces a choice: Are you unapologetically Pro-Dreamer, or are you voting on resolutions that congratulate ICE for violating our rights? We need each member of this body to push for real, comprehensive immigration reform that reflects the values we claim as a nation. We don’t need bans, walls, raids, or kidnappings. We don’t need ICE agents terrorizing our communities.”