U.S. Congress Must Provide a Permanent Solution for Dreamers and Ensure Pathways to Citizenship

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program established to provide temporary relief from deportation of thousands of immigrants brought to the United States as children, is unlawful. This “deeply disappointing” decision follows a movement led by Texas and other states who are against finding permanent solutions for DACA and places hundreds of thousands of young immigrants with an uncertain future.

On behalf of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a bi-partisan probusiness organization aimed at supporting Hispanic business owners throughout the United States, I am extremely concerned by this decision and by its potentially negative impact for the future of the United States economy, which is still rebuilding from the impact of COVID-19.

America’s 63.5 million Hispanics, contribute $2.8 trillion dollars to the U.S. economy every year, making our collective GDP the 5th largest in the world, when compared to other nations.

Since DACA was originally passed in 2012, more than 825,000 young immigrants, known as “DREAMers”, many of whom are Hispanic or Latino, have continued to live, thrive, and become key contributors of the United States workforce and economy, while serving as law-abiding residents. Based on a PBS analysis, it is suggested that DACA increased overall national income by $7,454 per employed DACA recipient. About 75 percent of this increase in income is due to productivity gains and 25 percent to increases in employment among DACA beneficiaries. Overall, this amounts to a GDP increase of $3.5 billion per year.

Furthermore, it is estimated that over 200,000 DREAMers were at the forefront of community responses as essential workers in healthcare, education, and food services during the country’s response to the global pandemic. Furthermore, it is reported that America would face a $433 billion reduction in economic growth over the next decade if DACA is suspended.

DACA recipients have consistently proven to be an invaluable resource for the United States economy, and the USHCC rejects the idea that this new decision is based on threats to our country or constitution, but rather based on unproductive anti-immigration rhetoric.

Today, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce joins partner organizations like UnidosUS, the American Immigration Council, and others in calling on Congress to provide a permanent protection and solution for DREAMers as the legality of the program is currently in question by some of our Federal courts in America. At the end of the day, we must work together as Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to build and develop long-term solutions to fix our broken immigration laws and systems, that if unmet will hold back the rebuilding of our American economy that will require a full pipeline of talented and trained skilled workers to meet our growing industry needs.

Respectfully,

Ramiro Cavazos

President & CEO

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce