Texas Dreamer Work Authorization Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6922

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-01-27T13:23:05Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Texas Dreamer Work Authorization Act of 2025" aims to provide clear legal authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue work permits, known as Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), to individuals who receive deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. This would override any court rulings or orders that limit such permits, ensuring consistent access nationwide, including for first-time applicants.

Key Provisions

• Findings: The bill states that DACA has enabled hundreds of thousands of people brought to the U.S. as children to contribute to the economy, national security, and communities. It highlights the importance of work authorization for these individuals to support families, pay taxes, and use their skills. It notes uncertainty from recent court decisions, especially in states like Texas, that block work permits for new applicants in certain areas.
• Employment Authorization: Amends Section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which deals with employment verification, by adding a new subsection (h):
• DHS must grant work authorization to anyone approved for deferred action under DACA (or a similar future policy), regardless of other laws or court orders.
• New applicants who meet DACA criteria—including those in areas previously restricted by courts—must receive work permits at the same time as their deferred action approval.
• Defines DACA as the 2012 DHS policy memorandum titled "Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children," which protects eligible undocumented immigrants brought here as minors from deportation and allows temporary work permits.
• Effective Date: The law takes effect 90 days after being signed into law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces explicit statutory authority for DHS to issue EADs to DACA recipients, which previously relied on executive policy rather than direct congressional law.
• Overrides judicial interpretations or injunctions (court orders blocking enforcement) that have restricted DACA work permits, particularly for new applicants in jurisdictions like Texas, promoting uniform application across the U.S.
• Expands eligibility to ensure first-time DACA applicants in restricted areas can access work authorization, addressing gaps created by court challenges to the original DACA program.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: DHS gains clear legal power to process and issue EADs without fear of court blocks, potentially streamlining operations and reducing litigation costs. It may require updates to internal procedures within 90 days of enactment.
• On Citizens and Residents: DACA recipients (often called Dreamers) can more reliably obtain legal work permits, enabling them to work, pay taxes, and support families, which could boost local economies and communities. Employers benefit from a stable workforce without immigration status uncertainties.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. commitments to humane immigration policies for long-term residents, potentially influencing perceptions of U.S. immigration fairness abroad.
• Broader economic effects include increased tax contributions and skilled labor participation from DACA holders, estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• DACA Recipients: Primary beneficiaries, including current holders (about 800,000 as of recent estimates) and potential new applicants, who gain secure work rights.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Tasked with implementing and enforcing the new authority, including processing applications.
• States and Local Governments: Particularly Texas and other areas with court challenges, where new applicants previously faced barriers; this could reduce state-level disparities in immigration enforcement.
• Employers and Businesses: Gain access to a more predictable labor pool from DACA-eligible individuals.
• Immigrant Advocacy Groups and Communities: Support for Dreamers' integration, potentially easing family separations and community contributions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Shifts DACA from an executive policy (vulnerable to court challenges) to statutory law, making it harder to dismantle without congressional action. It explicitly supersedes injunctions, which could prompt further lawsuits testing the limits of congressional override of judicial decisions.
• Constitutional: Raises questions about separation of powers, as it empowers the executive branch (DHS) via statute while addressing immigration—a shared federal responsibility—but may face scrutiny if seen as encroaching on judicial authority over prior rulings.
• Political: Addresses ongoing debates over DACA's future amid partisan divides on immigration; by focusing on work authorization, it sidesteps broader deportation issues but could energize support or opposition from pro- and anti-immigration factions. As a targeted bill introduced by Rep. De La Cruz (R-TX), it reflects bipartisan interest in Dreamer protections while navigating regional concerns like those in Texas.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Texas Dreamer Work Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-23 — PDF (4 pages)