17 JUN 2022

Hub Highlights: Biden-Harris Administration, Democratic Caucus, and Candidates Across the Country Commemorate DACA’s Tenth Anniversary

Summit of the Americas Promotes Safe, Humane and Orderly Migration 

WASHINGTON, DC - On June 15th, immigrant youth, advocates, elected officials, and 2022 Democratic candidates across the country celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, highlighting the program’s life changing impact to undocumented youth and their families and the accomplishments and contributions of Dreamers. The anniversary also reiterated the call on Congress to pass permanent protections for DACA recipients and their families. 

With the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled to hear oral arguments to determine DACA’s fate, the urgency to deliver legislative action remains at the center of talks in Congress and a campaign focus for many voters who support a path to citizenship for Dreamers and their families. In fact, a majority of the American electorate believe that providing legal status to undocumented immigrants is both long overdue and would help the nation’s economic recovery. Democrats passed H.R. 6 in the last two Congresses and the Dream Act in the 111th Congress. President Biden has also coordinated a whole-of-government response to support and protect DACA recipients should further legal challenges arise and to highlight the importance of renewing applications. However, Republicans in Congress have blocked the measures from moving forward despite public support, including GOP business leaders and donors who recently sent a letter urging Republican lawmakers to protect Dreamers, which would help ease the nation’s labor shortages, reduce food prices and create jobs for all.

The DACA 10-year anniversary demonstrated commitment to protect DACA and continue to fight for citizenship for Dreamers, including from top-of-the-ticket Democrats running for office:

  • Democratic candidates across the country celebrate Dreamers and promise to fight for them and their families. In an op-ed, Governor of Florida candidate Charlie Crist promised to fight for Dreamers if elected. Gisele Fetterman shared her struggles as a formerly undocumented Dreamer and committed to continue fighting for immigrants. Congresswoman Val Demings (FL-10), currently running for U.S. Senate, also celebratedthe success of DACA and offered an alternative to the current politics of Florida as a champion for Dreamers.

  • The White House marked the beginning of National Immigrant Heritage Month, 2022 with a Proclamation honoring their contributions and profound impact. In a separate tweet, Vice President Harris celebrated Immigrant Heritage Month by sharing her experience “as the proud daughter of two immigrants to this country.”

  • On June 15, The Biden-Harris Administration coordinated multiple engagements to commemorate the 10th DACA anniversary. President Biden kicked off the day remembering when DACA was announced by former President Obama and called on Congress to pass permanent protections. The President, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, USCIS Director Jaddou and Ambassador Rice all met with DACA Recipients.

  • Congressional Democrats honor DACA and immigrant youth. House and Senate Democrats, along with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), joined a rally with undocumented youth, business and education leaders, and immigration advocates to call on Congress to legislate a pathway to citizenship for all Dreamers. CHC Vice Chair Aguilar hosted the Democratic Caucus, joined by Speaker Pelosi the tri-caucus and DACA recipients, in a separate event for a press conference that was capped off with a cake cutting celebrating the birthday of DACA.

Summit of the Americas demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to working with the Western Hemisphere to tackle global migration and climate change, promote opportunities and honor the rights of refugees. Among some of the most notable advances made during the summit, President Biden signed onto the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection and announced the continuance of parole for Haitians and Cubans. Despite hyperbolic attacks from some Republican lawmakers who continue to falsely warn of “migrant caravans” and an “invasion” at the border, the initiatives are critical pieces to the Biden administration’s blueprint to strengthen our immigration system and address the root causes of migration.

  • In a key commitment coming out of the Summit, President Biden announced the resumption of the Haitian and Cuban Family Reunification Parole Programs—allowing certain eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for parole for their family members. To ensure success of the program, DHS must also continue to work to remove barriers and hire the necessary staff to work through the existing visa and interview backlog.

  • Vice President Kamala Harris announced the Central American Service Corps (CASC). This $50 million initiative will be administered by USAID and will provide young people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras with paid community service opportunities, mentorship, and a path to future employment. The Vice President also announced a new program, In Her Hands, that will advance women economic empowerment opportunities in northern Central America.

  • President Biden also joined 19 other leaders from across the Americas— Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay— to sign the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection at the Summit of the Americas.

  • The Los Angeles Declaration delivers on the Biden-Harris’s administration’s promise to strengthen America’s immigration and asylum system through their work to encourage regional prosperity and security. It represents the culmination of months of multilateral engagement and is organized around four key pillars:

    • Stability and assistance for communities;

    • Expansion of legal pathways;

    • Humane migration management; and

    • Coordinated emergency response.

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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.