New Bipartisan Immigration Bill Aligns with BPC's DACA Roadmap

Washington, D.C.– Late yesterday, Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA) introduced the outlines of the bipartisan “Uniting and Securing America Act,” or USA Act, that provides a path to permanent residence for DACA beneficiaries and DREAMers, and provides for additional technology and infrastructure to help secure the border. The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Immigration Task Force recommended just such policies as part of its Roadmap for a DACA Deal in September.

“This bill represents a pragmatic solution that provides a permanent status for the DREAMers and additional efforts to secure the border and reduce future illegal immigration,” said Theresa Brown, Director of Immigration and Cross-Border Policy at BPC. “Furthermore, it recognizes the need for the right combination of technology, infrastructure and personnel to develop a layered border security solution.”

This bill represents a pragmatic solution that provides a permanent status for the DREAMers and additional efforts to secure the border and reduce future illegal immigration

“We are encouraged by this bipartisan effort of key Democratic and Republican lawmakers and hope that it can help to break the logjam around this issue and allow congressional leaders and the White House to come to agreement and move legislation forward,” said Brown. “Every day, DACA recipients are losing their status, and Congress has the opportunity to solve this issue quickly.”

BPC’s DACA Roadmap included recommendations that: would provide for border technology, rebuilding roads and clearing sightlines along the border, and creating a comprehensive southern border strategy, while providing for a permanent status and path to citizenship for DACA recipients and others brought to the United States as children.