Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today announced its support for the recently re-introduced bipartisan BRIDGE (Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy) Act.
“Providing temporary relief from deportation for undocumented young adults, or ‘Dreamers’, is a step in the right direction,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “As a Christian organization, we will continue to advocate for laws that ensure a place at the table for everyone in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.”
The BRIDGE Act was introduced to the 115th Congress by Sens. Richard Durbin (D- IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Reps. Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). If passed, it would protect undocumented young adults who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Many of these individuals (commonly referred to as “Dreamers”) were brought to the U.S. as children. It would also allow them to legally work and study in the U.S.
Rescinding DACA without passing the BRIDGE Act would not only have devastating effects on young adults and their families, whom they often support, but it would also hurt our economy. DACA recipients are significant contributors to their local economies. Through DACA, over 741,000 individuals have been able to contribute to our society and their communities.
“Because a substantial percentage of undocumented immigrants in the United States live in poverty and legalization would help them escape hunger, positive reforms to immigration is critical,” added Beckmann. “Bread for the World will continue to support legislation, like the BRIDGE act, that strives for lasting solutions to our broken immigration system.”
He called on all members of Congress to co-sponsor the BRIDGE Act and send a strong message that rescinding DACA has moral and economic repercussions that Congress cannot allow or afford.
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