15 AUG 2023
11th Anniversary Of DACA Implementation Passes Without Permanent Solutions For Dreamers
WASHINGTON – Today marks eleven years since the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) first began accepting applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was first announced in June 2012. The widely popular program continues to face uncertainty as the country awaits yet another court decision on its legality. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen previously declared the program illegal in 2021 and it is expected that he will rule against the program again this year.
Since its inception, the DACA program has provided the opportunity for over 830,000 Dreamers across the country to study, work, and contribute to the social and economic fabric of America without fear of deportation. DACA protections have allowed Dreamers to build lives and start families in the U.S., without regard to where they were born, and their hard work has proven essential to the U.S. economy–contributing billions of dollars annually and even creating new demand for jobs for U.S. citizens.
Today, however, also marks the eleventh year without permanent protections in place for Dreamers–who 76% of voters agree ought to have a path to permanent legal status. Our leaders in Congress and the Biden administration must find a way forward to end the legal limbo that has lasted over a decade and provide a way forward for our nation’s Dreamers.
Daishi Miguel-Tanaka, a DACA recipient from Los Angeles, CA and Legislative Manager at the Immigration Hub said:
“I went to elementary, middle, and high school in the U.S. I graduated from Harvard University and today, I pay thousands of dollars in taxes each year the same as many Americans. By threatening Dreamers’ right to stay, Judge Hanen and MAGA extremists in Congress continue their witch-hunt against hundreds of thousands of doctors, teachers, and students contributing to American prosperity.
“At a time when labor supply is dwindling, Judge Hanen continues to distort popular opinion and use his gavel to shatter the American Dream. Dreamers already give so much to this country; it is time for our leaders to recognize us as the Americans we truly are and open pathways to citizenship so we can keep contributing to the country we call home.”
Andrea Colmenero, a DACA recipient from Denver, CO and Special Assistant at the Immigration Hub said:
“DACA has allowed me to continue my education at the University of Colorado-Denver, where I’m currently pursuing my master’s in public policy, while simultaneously advancing my career in public service. As we once again await a ruling from Judge Hanen, these opportunities are likely to be stripped away from me absent intervention from our leaders. Our futures hang in the balance, as do the U.S. economy and workforce that depend on our contributions each year. If the U.S. Supreme Court ends DACA in 2025, over 595,00 current beneficiaries like myself will lose their jobs, contributing to already increasing labor shortages across the country. Dreamers who are employed in a range of professional occupations and industries – from healthcare and education to technology and hospitality to agriculture and construction – would fall out of status at a rate of 1,000 workers per week over a period of two years and an estimated loss of $1 billion monthly to the U.S. economy, impacting the livelihoods of all families and communities across the country.”
“The consequences of over a decade of congressional inaction cannot be ignored. There is a moral and economic imperative for both the Biden administration and Congress to come together and advance permanent protections for Dreamers.”
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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.