The Dream Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin and Lisa Murkowski on December 4, 2025, aims to allow Dreamers to seek legal status and protection from deportation, and if they meet certain requirements, obtain a green card. The Dream Act implementation can help children of H-1B holders, Dreamers, and DACA participants who expect to receive a US green card.
Dream Act 2025 proposals could allow nearly 525,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, as well as another two million eligible Dreamers brought to America as children, to stay in the U.S. The bill could also allow 250,000 documented Dreamers to stay in the U.S. and obtain permanent legal status.
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Dreamers in America
‘Dreamers’ are undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. A DACA recipient is a person who has been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a US immigration policy that shields unauthorized immigrants who came to the US as children.
The bill defines Documented Dreamers as the children of non-immigrant E-1, E-2, H-1B, and L visa holders.
The bill has proposals for Documented Dreamers, noncitizens who grew up in the U.S. as visa holders but lost their status upon turning 21, to secure legal status.
However, the Dream Act of 2025 proposes a two-step process to obtain legal status. In the first step, the Dream Act of 2025 would create a Conditional permanent resident status, and in the second step, the Conditional permanent resident status can be changed to lawful permanent resident or green-card holder status.
US Green Card for Dreamers
On meeting specific conditions, children under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), as well as eligible Dreamers, can look forward to getting a US green card.
Step 1. Conditions to qualify for conditional permanent resident status
Demonstrate that they were brought to the U.S. at age 18 or younger and have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least four years before the bill’s enactment
Pass a government background check, demonstrate “good moral character”, submit biometric and biographic data, and undergo a biometric and medical exam
Demonstrate they have been admitted to a college or university, have earned a high school diploma, or are in the process of earning a high school diploma or an equivalent or, or demonstrate they have served, are serving, or have enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Swear under penalty of perjury that they have no unpaid Federal tax liability or have entered into or applied to agree with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to resolve any existing Federal tax liability.
Step 2. Conditions to qualify for conditional permanent resident status and get a green card
Maintain continuous residence in the U.S.
Complete one of the following three requirements (tracks):
Graduate from a college or university, or completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or higher degree program in the U.S. (education track)
Complete at least two years of honorable military service and, if discharged, received an honorable discharge (military track)
Demonstrate employment for a period totaling at least three years and at least 75 percent of the time the individual has had a valid employment authorization document while not enrolled in school (worker track).
Demonstrate an ability to read, write and speak English and an understanding of American history, principles and form of government.
Pass a government background check, continue to demonstrate “good moral character” without felony or multiple misdemeanor convictions, submit biometric and biographic data, and undergo a biometric exam.