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A renewed push in the United States Senate is seeking to address one of the most persistent failures of the American immigration system — the lack of a permanent, lawful path for young immigrants who grew up in the country but face the threat of losing their status. The Dream Act of 2025, reintroduced by Senators Dick Durbin and Lisa Murkowski on December 4, expands earlier versions by formally including “Documented Dreamers,” children who entered legally on dependent visas but age out at 21. This expansion is especially significant for Indian families navigating long green card waits.
Children of H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 visa holders currently face an abrupt cutoff when they turn 21. Once they cross that threshold, they can no longer remain on their parents’ visas and must shift to student status, leave the country, or find another temporary workaround. With India’s employment-based green card backlog stretching into decades, nearly 100,000 Indian children are projected to age out in the coming years. A previous analysis estimated that more than 1.3 million dependents could lose status before their families reach the front of the line, largely due to the per-country green card cap of just seven percent.
The Dream Act aims to counter this by granting eligible youth a conditional permanent resident status for up to eight years. This status would protect them from deportation, allow employment authorization, and permit international travel. To qualify, applicants must have arrived before age 18, lived in the US continuously for at least four years, passed background and medical checks, paid taxes, and met education or military-related requirements. Current DACA recipients would automatically transition into the new category if they remain eligible.
To move from conditional residency to a full green card, applicants must complete one of three pathways: two years of higher education or a completed degree, two years of honorable military service, or at least three years of authorized employment. They must also demonstrate English proficiency, pass civics requirements, and clear security screenings.
If enacted, the bill could impact more than 2.8 million young people — including 525,000 DACA holders, 2 million Dreamers who arrived as children, and 250,000 Documented Dreamers. Academic groups and immigration advocates have voiced strong support, emphasizing the economic contribution Dreamers make, including nearly $65 billion generated annually and $18 billion paid in taxes.
While the bill’s passage remains uncertain, its inclusion of Documented Dreamers represents one of the most substantial bipartisan openings in years. For Indian families trapped in decades-long waits, the proposal offers the closest prospect of meaningful relief.
