The Torah teaches us to welcome the stranger, for once we were strangers in the land of Egypt. That is why NCJW supports protecting immigrant youth, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients as the first step toward a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented people living in the United States. The  Dream and Promise Act of 2023 (HR16), introduced by Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), would do just that by establishing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers — those who came to the United States in their youth and know the United States as their home — and individuals with TPS and DED, many of whom have contributed to this country for decades. The bill would create a permanent resident status for 10 years for Dreamers, grant individuals with TPS or DED a full lawful permanent resident status, and establish protections for Dreamers and immigrant families during their application for equal and fair citizenship. It is time to help the Dreamers as well as TPS and DED holders who are a part of our communities and vital to the economic strength of our nation. 

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