Evangelical Pastors, World Relief Applaud Introduction of Dream Act of 2025

Global evangelical humanitarian organization thanks Senators Durbin and Murkowski for bipartisan leadership on behalf of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children

BALTIMORE, Md. – World Relief thanks Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for reintroducing the Dream Act of 2025. This commonsense legislation with bipartisan support would create a pathway to citizenship for qualifying immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children but are currently ineligible for permanent legal status.

Senator Durbin first brought the Dream Act to the floor in 2001, alongside Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), to create a legitimate pathway to citizenship for individuals who arrived as children, too young to have made the decision to migrate for themselves, and found their opportunities to thrive and contribute to their new homes limited by their lack of permanent legal status. After 24 years, this will be the last time he will introduce this important measure before he retires.

“Dreamers sit in our classrooms and pews, work in our businesses and ministries and live in our neighborhoods; it’s past time for the law to reflect their role in America,” commented Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief. “Scripture prohibits us from meting out punishment on a child for the actions of a parent. We have a responsibility to these young men and women to allow them the dignity of living in the light and without fear for their future We urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass the Dream Act.”

If passed into law, the Dream Act would provide relief to the roughly 500,000 individuals around the country who currently have temporary legal protections and work authorization as a result of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, many of whom are fearful that without being codified into law, this program created by executive branch action could be terminated by any subsequent administration or be impacted by a pending legal challenge.

The bill would also offer hope to an additional 2 million immigrants who arrived as children but do not meet the eligibility requirements for DACA, which included a requirement to have arrived in the United States on or before June 15, 2007. At this point, no one who is still a minor could qualify for DACA.

“This legislation would be a lifeline for young immigrants in Alaska and beyond, and I’m thankful for the leadership of Senator Murkowski and Senator Durbin in working together on a bipartisan basis to introduce this bill,” said Criss Mitchell, pastor of First Covenant Church of Anchorage, Alaska.

Nationally, 74% of evangelical Christians support legislative solutions that create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants without legal status, according to Lifeway Research’s 2025 survey, while four out of five express support for legislative packages that would tie a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers to improvements to border security and reforms to address the need for lawfully-authorized agricultural workers.

“As someone who was once protected under DACA, I understand the uncertainty and fear that so many Dreamers continue to live with. These are individuals who grew up here, many of them pledging allegiance to the American flag as children, and who have contributed faithfully to our communities, churches and nation. They deserve more than temporary protection. They deserve a real pathway to belonging and citizenship. I am grateful for leaders like Senator Durbin who continue to champion this cause, and I join Dreamers across the Evangelical Covenant Church in praying that this is the moment when justice and compassion finally prevail,” said Edgar Torres, the Illinois-based president of the Asociación Latina de la Iglesia del Pacto Evangélico (ALIPE), which links Latino congregations and pastors within the Evangelical Covenant Church.

“The Dream Act would benefit nearly 100,000 Illinoisans who have grown up in our communities but whose full flourishing has been hindered by their lack of permanent legal status,” said Susan Sperry, executive director of World Relief Chicagoland. “At a time when so many immigrants in our community feel insecure, the Dream Act would formally convey to these individuals what we know to be true: that this is their home and they fully belong. I’m thankful to Senator Durbin for his persistence in pursuing this vital legislation and to Senator Murkowski as well.”

World Relief reminds those who could be directly impacted by the passage of this legislation that, while a bill’s introduction is an important first step, this bill is not yet law. Individuals seeking legal guidance should reach out to an experienced immigration attorney or to a non-profit organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide legal guidance on immigration matters, including many local World Relief offices and local churches to which World Relief provides support.