Veasey Introduces Pro-Immigrant Bills Amid Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at expanding college access for undocumented and first-generation American students. After two brave undocumented valedictorians from Texas revealed their immigration status and continue to face national anti-immigrant scrutiny, Congressman Veasey introduced the American Dream Promise Act and the Fairness in Financial Aid (FIFA) Act to demonstrate that when immigrants and their children are provided with educational opportunities, America will continue its proud legacy as a nation of immigrants.

Currently, Georgia and Alabama, two states that have been known to pass the most stringent immigration laws in our nation, have placed barriers to higher education for undocumented students. H.R. 5503, the American Dream Promise Act, prohibits discrimination against undocumented students who are applying to public universities who otherwise qualify for acceptance and admittance.

H.R. 5502, Fairness in Financial Aid (FIFA) Act, would ease the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process for American students with undocumented parents by allowing U.S. students to input their parent’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in place of a social security number. As the immigrant community anxiously awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program, this bill will ensure that mixed-status immigrant families are not prevented from accessing eligible financial aid.

“A 2007 study by the White House Council of Economic Advisors concluded that immigrants raised American GDP by $37 billion a year with their economic impact growing since that time,” Congressman Veasey said. “If we truly want to ensure the current generation of young people can continue to contribute to our country’s prosperity, access to education needs to remain a pillar of our society – regardless of a student’s immigration background.”

As anti-immigrant rhetoric continues to dominate the House Republican agenda, Congressman Veasey is introducing an aggressive legislative agenda to empower the immigrant community to achieve their goals and to live the American Dream.