"In the last few years the term “DREAMer” has been used to describe young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, who have lived and gone to school here, and who in many cases identify as American.
The term DREAMer originally took its name from the bill in Congress, but it has a double meaning about the undocumented youth who have big hopes and dreams for a better future." - ADL: Fighting Hate For Good
"DACA is a federal government program created in 2012 under Barack Obama to allow people brought to the US illegally as children the temporary right to live, study and work in America.
Those applying are vetted for any criminal history or threat to national security and must be students or have completed school or military service.
If they pass vetting, action to deport them is deferred for two years, with a chance to renew, and they become eligible for basics like a driving license, college enrollment or a work permit."- The Guardian
"We define the term "undocumented" broadly to include all immigrants who reside in the United States without legal status.
This includes individuals who: entered without inspection...entered with legal status but overstayed...have or previously had Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)...are currently in the process of legalizing...[and] vulnerable immigrants." -Immigrants Rising
For information on the most recent updates regarding DACA, see the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services website.
There are two versions of the Dream Act currently before Congress: the Dream Act of 2021 (S. 264) and a version of the Dream Act that is incorporated into a larger bill known as the Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6).
Both bills would provide path to citizenship for Dreamers. H.R. 6 would also provide a path to citizenship to beneficiaries of two humanitarian programs: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
