28 AUG 2022

Biden-Harris Administration Moves to Protect DACA, Congress Must Permanently Protect Dreamers and Undocumented Families

WASHINGTON, DC - The Biden-Harris administration announced a new regulation to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has protected more than 830,000 young people from deportation, allowing them to work, study, and contribute fully to American society. Dreamers have not only thrived in their personal lives, but have also proved essential to the economy with more than three-quarters of DACA recipients in the workforce— 343,000— contributing to the country’s essential workforce during the pandemic. While Republican politicians have repeatedly attempted to end the program through court challenges— most recently through a 5th Circuit Court lawsuit— the majority of the American public support a path to citizenship for our nation’s Dreamers. 

While the rule did not expand the program and ultimately cannot guarantee the program’s continued existence in the face of court challenges, the administration addressed legal issues raised by many organizations in the public comment period. The limitations of the administration’s proposed rule serves as another reminder of the need for Congress to deliver  a path to citizenship for Dreamers, their families and undocumented immigrants in the U.S. With the backdrop of a looming decision by the 5th Circuit that could end DACA, a new battleground poll conducted by Hart Research and BSP Research revealed that a majority of voters (65%) want Congress to protect Dreamers and Congress should act immediately.

Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement:  

“With today’s new rule, the Biden-Harris administration is taking action to continue the DACA program, a successful initiative that has allowed Dreamers who arrived as children to work and live in the U.S. A looming 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on the future of the DACA program may upend the new rule and result in Supreme Court litigation that could put Dreamers on a path to deportation. 

“With the vast majority of voters strongly in favor of providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, it is inexcusable for Congress to fail to deliver protections for these incredible young immigrants. DACA was not only a historic victory for immigrant youth who relentlessly organized to be recognized by this country as the Americans they are, but also a victory for the rest of this nation which has greatly benefited from the many contributions of DACA recipients, including the work of thousands of DACA essential workers who helped us survive a historic pandemic. With Republicans trying to end DACA through the courts as they did with abortion, Democrats must sound the alarm on DACA and use every tool at their disposal to protect hundreds of thousands of Dreamers in communities across our country. 

“It is time for Congress to resolve the uncertainty that has lingered for more than a decade after multiple Republican legal challenges and attempts by GOP officials such as Trump’s move to end DACA. We need legislation passed this year to protect undocumented immigrants including Dreamers, farm workers and Temporary Protected Status holders, among others, who are contributing to our economy and communities.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.