Advocates representing a number of immigrant rights and progressive organizations, including Daily Kos, delivered 300,000 signatures to the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging quick action on legislation that would put immigrants who have had their protections repeatedly under attack by the Trump administration onto a path to citizenship.

The Dream And Promise Act of 2019, introduced last month by Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard, Nydia Velázquez, and Yvette Clarke, would protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Temporary Protected Status, and Deferred Enforced Departure beneficiaries, all of whom have seen their protections terminated by the president. While the courts have for the most part kept these protections in place, these families will continue to remain at risk unless Congress acts on something permanent.

”I cannot stress … how the lack of options and resources to go forward keep us, keep communities, keep our families and ourselves from going forward,” said Ronnie James, a leader with the UndocuBlack Network, and one of the 700,000 DACA recipients living in limbo. Daily Kos and UndocuBlack were part of a coalition featuring the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, CREDO Action, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, Progress America, and United We Dream to push for action. “It’s not a life that I wish on anyone. It’s not a life that anyone should have to go through.”

Highlighting the urgency of this legislation are the thousands of Liberian immigrants who just last month were on the brink of losing their protections. Had DED been allowed to end on March 31, thousands would have become undocumented overnight and vulnerable to deportation. In a victory for these families, the administration extended DED through next year, and, to be clear, only did this because a court would have likely ruled for these families.

The petition delivery came as educators also launched a week of action in support of the legislation, among them Cornell University President Martha Pollack. “These young men and women deserve to continue their studies,” she wrote in a letter to Congress, “start their careers, and live their lives without the constant fear of disruption or deportation brought on by sudden policy changes.” A number of national security groups this week also released a letter in support of these program beneficiaries.

Just as importantly, Congress must pass these protections without more money and unchecked power going to unshackled mass deportation agents that should instead be held accountable. "We urge Speaker Pelosi to act with strong leadership and ensure that absolutely no poison pills are added to the Dream and Promise Act,” said NAKASEC’s Sam Yu. These families shouldn’t have to keep living their lives in limbo. They need certainty. “It’s important to recognize that we are not just immigrants,” James continued, “we are people.” Click here to find out how to make a call to Congress and urge the passage of the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 now.