S.Amdt. 6161

The amendment, submitted by Mr. Durbin, proposes to add a new subtitle called the Dream Act of 2026 to the bill. Its purpose is to create a pathway for certain long-term residents who entered the United States as children to obtain permanent resident status on a conditional basis.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• Conditional Status Requirements: It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant conditional permanent residency to eligible aliens who meet specific criteria, such as being under 18 when they first entered the U.S., maintaining continuous physical presence, and meeting education, military service, or employment standards.

• DACA Integration: It specifically requires the Secretary to grant this conditional status to individuals who were granted DACA, provided they have not engaged in conduct that would make them ineligible.

• Path to Permanent Residency: It establishes a process to remove the "conditional" nature of the status and grant full lawful permanent residence if the person meets further requirements, such as earning a higher education degree, serving in the Armed Forces for at least 2 years, or being employed for at least 3 years.

• Protections and Fees: It provides for a stay of removal for eligible students in elementary, secondary, or early childhood education programs and outlines a fee structure with exemptions for those who are homeless, in foster care, or facing serious disability and financial hardship.

• Confidentiality: It prohibits the use of application information for immigration enforcement and forbids referring these individuals to ICE or CBP, except for national security, fraud prevention, or felony investigations.