Press Releases

New York Teamsters Support the Dream and Promise Act

Bill introduced today would protect Dreamers and TPS holders and provide pathway to citizenship

George Miranda, President of Teamsters Joint Council 16 in New York, announced his union’s support of the The Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which was introduced in the House of Representatives today. The legislation would grant permanent protections and a path to citizenship for Dreamers — undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children — and those from countries covered by Temporary Protected Status (TPS), including El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti.

George Miranda, President of Teamsters Joint Council 16, speaks at rally outside of ICE for release of detained Teamster member

“Our immigrant members are a vital part of our union and we fully support this legislation to protect them and their families,” said George Miranda, President of Teamsters Joint Council 16. “The administration’s attacks on immigrants only serve to upend lives and push undocumented workers into the shadows, which undermines the labor rights of all workers. We don’t want to see another one of our members deported and will do all we can to help pass The Dream and Promise Act and other immigrant protections into law.”

Miranda also serves as an International Vice President At-Large of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and as President of the Teamsters National Hispanic Caucus.

The Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (C-CA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY), would protect Dreamers and TPS holders from deportations and create a path to legal permanent residency and citizenship as they meet certain educational and employment benchmarks.

Teamsters Joint Council 16 represents 120,000 workers in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Puerto Rico. The union voted in 2017 to become a Sanctuary Union and resist deportations of its members and other immigrants.