Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
DACA Reform Gains Momentum. Valadao Says Program Fix Needed.
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 3 months ago on
February 28, 2025
Play Video

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Costa) reintroduced a bill to fix the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) also recognizes the importance of DACA reform. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

About 200 Democratic representatives have signed onto a bill granting pathways for citizenship to immigrants who came to the country as children.

Now, the American Dream and Promise Act from Reps. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) has gained the support of a Republican representative. Another Central Valley representative agrees, saying reform for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is needed.

Florida Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Miami) signed onto the bill as a co-sponsor, according to Costa’s office.

And while not outright backing the bill, Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) spoke out about the need for DACA reform in a statement to GV Wire.

“Immigration reform is one of my top priorities in Congress, and that includes providing relief for DACA recipients,” Valadao said. “The Central Valley is home to thousands of DACA recipients who go to work, attend school, pay taxes, and are actively involved in our communities. With House Republicans in the majority, I look forward to working with my colleagues to reform our broken immigration system as well as providing much-needed security at our borders.”

Border Security Could Get Immigration Reform Passed: Costa

The American Dream and Promise Act establishes permanent residency for the roughly 500,000 DACA recipients while they can pursue citizenship. Recipients have been awaiting Congressional action for more than a decade after several failed attempts to pass legislation. Follow-up actions for President Barack Obama’s 2012 program failed even when Democrats controlled Congress.

The 2019 DREAM Act did not make it through the U.S. Senate while the 2023 American Dream and Promise Act failed to pass out of committee.

But given President Donald Trump’s verbal support for the DREAM Act, Costa says he believes it can be passed.

“The president has said that he thinks that we ought to do something for DREAMers, I think those DACA children deserve to be included as well, and that’s why we’ve introduced the legislation,” Costa said. “I think this has the potential with President Trump as we look at border security. We all agree we need to improve our border security to fix elements what is a broken immigration system today in America.”

“DREAMers” refers to the roughly 2.3 million people who came to the U.S. as children. Many of those signed up for the DACA program.

Costa wants to extend protections for both DREAMers and DACA. He says that can be done through the Farmworker Modernization Act, which helps secure farm labor jobs. Despite having trouble in the U.S. Senate, it has gotten bipartisan support in previous years. Adding in elements of border security could help secure the bipartisan support needed to get some immigration reform passed.

“I’ve never seen a level of fear as I’ve witnessed here in the last month or so,” Costa said. “It’s appropriate that we go after the bad people, the traffickers, human trafficking and drug trafficking, the cartels, those criminals and deport them, no one disagrees with that.

“But there’s a lot of other folks here, and I think they’re the majority who, for all practical purposes, are working hard, paying taxes, contributing to our community, who deserve an opportunity to legally call America their home.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

DON'T MISS

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

DON'T MISS

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

DON'T MISS

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

DON'T MISS

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

DON'T MISS

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

UP NEXT

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

UP NEXT

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

UP NEXT

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

UP NEXT

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

13 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

13 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

13 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

14 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

14 hours ago

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

14 hours ago

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

15 hours ago

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

16 hours ago

What Do Valley Leaders Say About Trump’s Threat to Yank High-Speed Rail Funding?

17 hours ago

Were Cuts in Rooftop Solar Payments Legal? CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments

17 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

The nonprofit supporting Fresno State’s ag specialty college unveiled its first corporate sponsor Thursday supporting students and tea...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

12 hours ago

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

13 hours ago

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

13 hours ago

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

13 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

13 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

14 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

Webster, GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, June 5, 2025
14 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend