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Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) voted in favor of H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act of 2019. H.R. 6, which passed the House with bipartisan support this evening, offers a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and other similarly situated immigrants who have spent much of their lives in the United States.

Dreamers who are eligible for protection under the bill on average arrived in the United States at the age of 8 and have grown up and built their lives knowing the United States as their home.

Immigrants eligible for TPS or DED – programs protecting individuals in the United States whose countries of origin are experiencing ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions – have, on average, lived in the United States since 1997.

“I'm proud to stand with Dreamers and to vote for the Dream and Promise Act because this bill will change lives and make America stronger,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “Dreamers are Americans in every way except on paper. These young people have proven they deserve permanent legal status and a fair pathway to citizenship. Today’s vote is a powerful affirmation of our values as Americans.”

In Virginia’s 10th Congressional District there are approximately 6,900 residents who would be eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act.

Up to 2.5 million immigrants across the country could be eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act. Without permanent protections such as those in the Dream and Promise Act, these immigrants’ and their families’ futures in the United States – as well as the fiscal and economic contributions they make – are at risk.

From the Center for American Progress:

Immigrants eligible for protection under H.R. 6 are part of Virginia’s social fabric

• Virginia is home to 69,400 immigrants who are eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act.
• These individuals live with 138,400 family members; among those family members, 32,300 are U.S.-born citizen children.
• Dreamers in Virginia who are eligible for protection under the bill arrived in the United States at the average age of 9.
• TPS- and DED-eligible immigrants in Virginia who would be eligible for protection under H.R. 6 have on average lived in the United States since 1996

Virginia’s economy benefits from immigrants eligible for protection under H.R. 6

• Immigrants eligible for the Dream and Promise Act own 8,200 homes in Virginia and pay $123,900,000 in annual mortgage payments.
• Eligible immigrants and their households contribute $647,300,000 in federal taxes and $309,700,000 in state and local taxes each year.
• Annually, these households generate $2,495,700,000 in spending power.

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