AAP Statement on House Passage of American Dream and Promise Act

By: Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics

'"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) applauds today's passage of the American Dream and Promise Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This important legislation would provide long overdue stability for more than 3 million undocumented immigrant youth and longtime residents, many of whom have spent virtually their entire lives in the United States.

"Since 2017, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients have been left in limbo, not knowing whether they would be able to remain in the United States. They are among our colleagues in medicine, have served our country in uniform, graduated from our colleges and universities, invested in our communities and work in our cities and towns. For them, our country is their only home and they have built their lives here – this bill would finally put an end to the uncertainty they have faced for far too long and offer a pathway to citizenship.

"Protective immigration policies like DACA have positive health effects not only for DACA recipients, but also for their children. The benefits are multi-generational and if we are to best support the health of all children, we must make the American Dream and Promise Act the law of the land. Today’s House passage was an important milestone and now it is time for the Senate to act without delay."

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds