De La Cruz Refused To Sign Immigration Petition
The representative has declined to provide the final signature needed to force a House vote on the American Dream and Promise Act.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Immigration
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U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz has refused to sign a discharge petition for the American Dream and Promise Act, which currently sits at 217 signatures. The petition requires 218 signatures to force a floor vote on the legislation, which would provide DACA recipients with 10 years of conditional permanent resident status.
Why it matters
Republican leadership has refused to advance the bill through regular channels, leading Representative Sylvia Garcia to initiate the discharge petition. Advocacy groups are now pressuring De La Cruz to provide the final signature required to bypass leadership and bring the measure to the floor.
The discharge petition currently has 217 signatures out of the 218 required to force a House vote. If passed, the American Dream and Promise Act would grant DACA recipients conditional permanent resident status for 10 years.
The players
Monica De La Cruz
She is the U.S. Representative for Texas' 15th Congressional District and maintains a policy of not signing discharge petitions.
Sylvia Garcia
She is a U.S. Representative who initiated the discharge petition to force a floor vote on the immigration legislation.
María Elvira Salazar
She is a U.S. Representative who broke with party leadership to sign the discharge petition.
Juan Chavez Velasco
He is an individual who was arrested by ICE agents earlier this year, highlighting the focus of immigrant rights groups.
The details
Representative De La Cruz maintains a policy of not signing discharge petitions, even as advocates highlight the potential impact of the legislation. While De La Cruz is a cosponsor of the Dignity Act, which includes authorization for DNA testing to verify family relationships, she continues to face pressure regarding the DACA-focused measure.
Timeline
Earlier this year, ICE agents arrested Juan Chavez Velasco.
Last year, the Texas 15th District was redrawn.
Earlier this month, the Cook Political Report changed the race rating to a Toss Up.
Political Context
Opposition to the discharge petition stems from Republican leadership's refusal to advance the American Dream and Promise Act without broader border security measures. Critics argue that forcing a vote undermines party cohesion and bypasses the traditional committee process favored by GOP leadership.
The failure to advance this legislation leaves the status of DACA recipients in a state of continued legal uncertainty, impacting families across the country. Residents in the Texas 15th Congressional District may see this issue play a larger role in the upcoming election as the race remains a toss-up.
The takeaway
The use of discharge petitions highlights the rare and high-stakes attempts by lawmakers to force votes on stalled legislation. Readers should monitor these procedural maneuvers as they often serve as the final avenue for bills that lack support from committee or party leadership.
Further reading
For more on ongoing legislative debates, visit the Immigration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Houston Chronicle.
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Should representatives use procedural discharge petitions to force floor votes on immigration legislation?
