It’s Not Too Late for Congress to Undo One of the Worst Supreme Court Decisions of the Last Term

As Congress returns from its August recess, lawmakers have a rare opportunity to address a pressing issue: the escalating mass deportation agenda spearheaded by President Donald Trump. The American Dream and Promise Act offers a pathway forward, providing permanent status for highly vetted law-abiding noncitizens who risk arrest, detention, and deportation under Trump’s administration.

The Supreme Court’s June decision effectively greenlit the dissolution of the temporary protected status program (TPS), which had offered protections to over 1 million people. This has dire consequences: thousands have lost their work permits, while communities across the United States are grappling with the loss of critical workers in various industries. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged an extension of TPS for Haitian nationals, highlighting the significant disruption that will result from this policy change.

Trump’s deportation agenda is not merely a product of his isolationist policies but also reflects a broader shift in the country’s stance on immigration. The Obama administration created DACA 14 years ago as an effort to protect high-achieving, law-abiding individuals who came to the United States as children. However, under Trump, many DACA recipients have experienced lengthy delays with their renewal applications and lost their work permits.

Juan Chavez Velasco’s story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of this policy. A college graduate, married to a U.S. citizen, and father of two U.S. citizen children, Chavez Velasco was detained by ICE while driving his premature infant daughter to the hospital for breast milk. This harrowing experience is far from unique – more than 170 DACA recipients have been deported.

The American Dream and Promise Act can help mitigate this crisis by offering pathways to permanent status that reflect the priorities of the American people. According to recent Gallup polling, about 85% of Americans support a path to citizenship for those brought to the United States as children, while 78% support a path to citizenship for individuals living illegally in the United States.

Versions of the bill have been introduced in Congress for years, and even passed the House during the first Trump administration. Last month, Rep. Sylvia Garcia filed a discharge petition, which has garnered significant support – including signatures from prominent Republicans like Maria Elvira Salazar and Brian Fitzpatrick. If this petition secures 218 signatures from House members, the full House will vote on the bill.

There is recent precedent for this maneuver: in April, a bill designed to protect Haitian TPS holders passed the House with a significant bipartisan majority. While it’s uncertain whether the American Dream and Promise Act will pass in its current form, there is momentum building behind it.

As Congress returns from recess, lawmakers have an opportunity to make meaningful progress on this pressing issue. The fate of thousands of law-abiding noncitizens hangs in the balance, and their stories serve as a stark reminder of what is at stake. If lawmakers are willing to put politics aside and work towards a solution that reflects the values of compassion and fairness, they can create a more just future for these individuals – and for our country.

But time is running out: the Supreme Court’s decision has set in motion a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences unless lawmakers intervene swiftly. As the August recess comes to a close, we must hold Congress accountable for taking meaningful action on this critical issue. Will they rise to the challenge and create a pathway to citizenship for those who deserve it? The clock is ticking, but one thing is certain: inaction will be remembered as a missed opportunity to do what’s right – and just.