WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced the Dream Act of 2025, a bill that offers practical and fair solutions for longstanding contributors to the nation’s economy and communities.
The legislation could allow as many as 2.5 million eligible Dreamers brought to the U.S. as children, including 525,000 current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, to earn conditional permanent legal status to live and work in the U.S if they meet certain requirements. It would end the increasing instability these Dreamers face amid shifts in immigration policy and enforcement, as well as ongoing litigation over the legality of DACA.
The 2025 version of the Dream Act, which has been bipartisan since its initial introduction in 2001, also includes a solution for the so-called “Documented Dreamers,” who came legally under their parents’ work visas and lose protections once they turn 21 due to administrative backlogs.
“It’s good to see a renewed bipartisan effort to protect individuals brought to the U.S. as children. The need for action has never been more pressing,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.
“DACA recipients and other Dreamers are vital to America’s economy. They pay taxes and fill essential roles in the American workforce thanks to their education, skills, entrepreneurship and leadership.
“We can prioritize our security and at the same time recognize their contributions and ensure stability for them, as well as for their employers and communities. The Dream Act of 2025 is an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together and take action.”
Polling in July showed that 66% of registered voters support legal pathways for Dreamers and other people already integrated in American communities, vs. only 20% in opposition. The margin was 57%-30% among Republican voters.