DENVER, CO – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took a historic step forward by passing the Dream and Promise Act, vital legislation that would provide an earned pathway to citizenship for more than two million people. This is only the fourth time in more than 30 years that legislation providing permanent protections for undocumented communities has passed even one chamber of Congress. FWD.us Colorado State Immigration Manager Marissa Molina issued the following statement:

“We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for taking the important step of passing the Dream and Promise Act, which would allow nearly 40,000 Colorodans to continue building their lives in the United States. For decades, immigrants of all backgrounds – including Dreamers and TPS holders – have contributed to the economic and social fabric of our state. This vital legislation would finally provide tens of thousands of Coloradans, their families, and the millions of Americans who stand with them the stability and peace of mind that they deserve. We urge the Senate to take up this important legislation without delay.”

Background
The Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6) would create an earned path to citizenship for more than two million people who have contributed to American communities for decades, including DACA recipients, DACA-eligible individuals, TPS holders and DED recipients. Roughly 39,700 Coloradans would qualify for permanent protections under this vital legislation. These individuals live with more than 18,000 U.S.-born citizen children and, on average, have lived in the United States since 1997. (Center for American Progress)

Today’s vote is historically significant, and is only the fourth time in more than 30 years that major immigration legislation that provides permanent protections for immigrant communities has passed even one chamber of Congress.

Available For Comment:
The individuals below are available for comment on the historic passage of the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6):

DACA Recipient: Marissa Molina (Denver, CO)
Colorado State Immigration Manager, FWD.us
Marissa is the Colorado state immigration manager with FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. A native of Mexico, Marissa Molina grew up in the Western Slope of Colorado in Glenwood Springs. She attended Fort Lewis College, where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Economics. As a 2014 Teach for America Corps Member, Marissa spent two years teaching Spanish for Native Speakers at DSST: GVR High School. In July of 2015, Marissa was one of nine educators with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to be honored by the White House as a Champion of Change. She was recently appointed to the Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Board of Trustees, becoming the first Dreamer to serve on a state board.

DACA Recipient: Gabriela Rodriguez (Lakewood, CO)
External Affairs Coordinator, KIPP Colorado Schools
Gabriela was raised in Denver, Colorado. Due to her status, her parents believed the best opportunity she could have after high school was becoming a hairdresser. Gabriela was passionate about her education and began pursuing a college degree a year before DACA was enacted. With DACA, she was able to find employment at her university and, with her parent’s help, paid for tuition out-of-pocket. Before Gabriela graduated with her degree in Convergent Journalism, she spent a year answering phone calls and submitting congressional inquiries about immigration and veteran affairs for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s office. She finished her internship through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institution in Washington D.C. while she wrote her undergraduate honors thesis about narratives in counterterrorism. Now, Gabriela is the External Affairs Coordinator for KIPP Colorado Schools. She works in Southwest Denver teaching advocacy and leadership skills to parents and students.

DACA Recipient: Fryda Faugier Ferreira (Denver, CO)
Campus Advisor, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Fryda is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. Brought over to the U.S. at an early age, Fryda carries the identity of being a Dreamer. She completed her education in Colorado and is the first in her family to graduate from college. Fryda received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, Socio-Legal Studies and Spanish from the University of Denver in 2018. While at the University of Denver she served as the first ever DACA/Undocumented Student Support Coordinator for the Center for Multicultural Excellence. Fryda has devoted her career to serving marginalized students transition to and from higher education. She currently serves as a Campus Advisor at Metropolitan State University of Denver for the Denver Scholarship Foundation.