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119-s-3348119th Congress

Dream Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Introduced

Summary

Conditional permanent resident (CPR) status would create a tailored pathway to permanent residence for people who arrived in the U.S. as children. It sets eligibility rules, a time-limited CPR term, education/military/employment and hardship routes to remove the conditional basis, and special provisions for DACA and TPS recipients.

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  • Young long-term residents and DACA/TPS recipients: Individuals who entered before age 18 and lived in the U.S. continuously for at least 4 years before enactment would be eligible if they meet criminal, security, education, and tax standards; current DACA recipients automatically qualify unless they committed disqualifying conduct.
  • Paths to full permanent residence: The Secretary would remove the conditional basis if an applicant completes an education pathway, at least two years of military service, or three years of qualifying employment with most work authorized. A hardship route would cover disability, full-time caregiving, or extreme hardship to a qualifying family member.
  • Protections, fees, and privacy: CPR would be granted for an 8-year term subject to extension, and the Secretary must give notice and a hearing before termination. The bill authorizes application fees with waivers for low-income or disabled applicants, limits disclosure of application data, and imposes up to a $10,000 civil penalty for improper disclosures.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Conditional green cards for childhood arrivals

If enacted, the bill would create a new conditional lawful permanent resident (CPR) status for people who came to the U.S. as children. You would need to have lived in the U.S. continuously since four years before enactment and to have entered under age 18. The bill would require fingerprints, background checks, a medical exam, and Selective Service proof when required. The Secretary could waive some inadmissibility grounds, treat expunged convictions case-by-case, and limit use of unreliable documents.

How conditional status becomes a full green card

If enacted, CPR holders could have the conditional basis removed and get full permanent residence by meeting one of several pathways. You would qualify by earning a U.S. degree or completing two years of a bachelor program, by serving two years in the U.S. Armed Forces (honorable discharge if separated), or by three years of qualifying work with at least 75% of that time authorized to work. The Secretary must remove the conditional basis for certain severe hardship or disability cases. CPR would last 8 years unless extended, and you could not apply for naturalization while in CPR. If CPR ends or is denied you would generally return to your prior status, and prior TPS holders may not return to TPS in some cases.

Limits on using CPR and DACA application data

If enacted, the bill would bar the Secretary from using or sharing information from CPR or DACA applications for immigration enforcement. The bill would also bar referrals of CPR or DACA grantees to ICE or CBP. Application data could still be shared for fraud prevention, national security, or investigation or prosecution of a felony. People harmed by improper disclosure could trigger a civil penalty of up to $10,000.

Application fees and fast rules to apply

If enacted, the Secretary could charge a processing fee for CPR applications and for removing the conditional basis. Some people would be exempt if they are under 18 and in foster care or homeless, have a serious chronic disability and low income, or have $10,000 or more in unreimbursed medical bills and low income (income at or below 150% of the poverty line). The bill would require interim rules within 90 days and let eligible people apply right away under those interim rules. The usual Paperwork Reduction Act review would not apply to these actions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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