The discussion regarding the legal status of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., particularly ‘Dreamers’, is currently in progress. In an interview with CBS News, Tom Homan, the White House border czar, stated that the government is discussing the legal status of some unauthorized immigrants.
CBS News correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez, during the interview, asked whether the border czar would support a compromise that involves giving legal status to the millions of people who are here ( in the US) illegally but are otherwise law-abiding, including Dreamers.
Homan said,” I’m not going to get ahead of the president. The president is talking to various members of his cabinet. There’s discussions going on. I’m involved with some and not others, but I’m not going to get ahead of the president on this.”
Homan did not elaborate or reveal anything further during the conversation.
Who are ‘Dreamers’ and what is the DACA Program
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, initiated in 2012, provides temporary employment authorization and deportation protection to undocumented minors in the US. Also referred to as ‘Dreamers,’, currently, over 800,000 individuals benefit from this program, although new applications have been halted since a nationwide injunction in 2021. ‘Dreamers’ in America are those undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
Challenges
The road ahead for Dreamers has become more uncertain. Recently, the Board of Immigration Appeals has ruled that DACA status alone is not enough to protect Dreamer children from deportation, a decision that could put hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants at risk.
A three-judge panel of appellate immigration judges in the BIA order stated that, “While the regulations provide Immigration Judges with the authority to terminate proceedings where the ‘alien is a beneficiary of . . . deferred action,’ the regulations also expressly provide that this action is an ‘exercise of discretion”
The Dream Act of 2025
Amid the uncertainty, certain lawmakers have introduced legislation to protect Dreamers. Senators Richard Durbin and Lisa Murkowski have introduced The Dream Act of 2025, proposing 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.
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, as proposed by the Dream Act of 2025, children under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), as well as eligible Dreamers, can look forward to getting a US green card. Here is what the two-step process looks like:
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
Once conditional permanent resident status is granted, Dreamers must fulfil additional conditions to obtain a full green card. These include maintaining continuous residence in the US and completing one of three tracks:
Education track: Graduate from a college or university, or completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or higher degree program in the U.S.
Military track: Complete at least two years of honorable military service and, if discharged, received an honorable discharge
Worker 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
In addition, Dreamers must demonstrate an ability to read, write and speak English and an understanding of American history, principles and form of government. They must also 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.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. DACA policies, BIA rulings, and the Dream Act of 2025 are subject to ongoing legal challenges, congressional action, and executive policy changes. The Dream Act of 2025 is a proposed bill and has not been signed into law. Readers are strongly advised to consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to their individual DACA or undocumented status.