Campaign Action
Three hundred business leaders, including chief executives from Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, have signed a letter both calling on Donald Trump to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and on Congress to pass permanent relief for immigrant youth through the DREAM Act. If DACA is rescinded, or phased out, 800,000 undocumented immigrant youth will lose their work permits and protection from deportation:
All DACA recipients grew up in America, registered with our government, submitted to extensive background checks, and are diligently giving back to our communities and paying income taxes. More than 97 percent are in school or in the workforce, 5 percent started their own business, 65 percent have purchased a vehicle, and 16 percent have purchased their first home. At least 72 percent of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies count DACA recipients among their employees.
Unless we act now to preserve the DACA program, all 780,000 hardworking young people will lose their ability to work legally in this country, and every one of them will be at immediate risk of deportation.
“Our economy would lose $460.3 billion from the national GDP and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions,” the letter continues. “Dreamers are vital to the future of our companies and our economy. With them, we grow and create jobs. They are part of why we will continue to have a global competitive advantage.”
For many of these companies, and businesses around the nation, it’s personal. “Today we know of 27 employees who are beneficiaries of DACA,” wrote Microsoft president Mark Smith in a blog post. “They are not only our colleagues, but our friends, our neighbors and valued members of the Microsoft community.” Smith:
Ending DACA will drastically disrupt the lives of these individuals who willingly came forward to register with the federal government. They could lose their jobs and risk deportation. This repeal will also have significant economic consequences. Studies estimate that ending the program could cost the American economy $460.3 billion in GDP (gross domestic product) and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions over the course of a decade.
Our country will also lose the tremendous talent of these individuals. DACA recipients bring a wide array of educational and professional backgrounds that enable them to contribute in crucial ways to our nation’s workforce. They are part of our nation’s universities and work in every major industry. They are artists, advocates and health care providers. They help meet the needs of our communities and our companies.
“Our country has always been a beacon of opportunity,” Smith writes. “If we are determined to preserve American leadership and excellence, let’s build lasting solutions that extend dignity and opportunity while promoting our country’s economic prosperity.” With no final decision yet announced, the fight to preserve DACA is as fierce as ever. Click here to call on your member of Congress to defend DACA, as well as pass permanent relief like the bipartisan 2017 DREAM Act.