Grand Canyon Times

WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored bipartisan legislation providing protections for Documented Dreamers – children of long-term visa holders who have been waiting years for a green card. The America’s Children Act provides certainty for young people who could face removal if they age out of “dependent status” without a green card or other immigration status.

“Documented Dreamers and their families make exceptional contributions to Arizona and America – they deserve certainty and peace of mind about their immigration status. We’re working with both sides of the aisle to ensure Documented Dreamers have a pathway to citizenship here in America – the only home many have ever known,” said Sinema, Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee.

Currently, over 250,000 children and young adults are legally living in the U.S as dependents of employment-based visa holders. Due to decades-long backlogs, many of these Documented Dreamers age out before they can access a green card, forcing them to leave the United States and separating them from their families. The Sinema-backed America’s Children Act protects eligible Documented Dreamers from facing removal by establishing age-out protections to lock in a child’s age on the date on which their parents file for a green card rather than the final action date. The bipartisan legislation additionally provides work authorization for individuals qualifying for age-out protection.

The Senator believes Documented Dreamers should not unfairly suffer due to circumstances beyond their control. America’s future resilience depends on the full inclusion of the millions of young people known as Dreamers – children who have grown up in Arizona neighborhoods, attended Arizona schools, served in the workforce and military, all while making communities more vibrant, enriched places to live. 

Original source can be found here.