On June 27, 2019, the Supreme Court announced that in its next term that begins in October, it will consolidate and hear the government’s appeal of three cases that have blocked the administration’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Nearly 800,000 immigrants who came to the U.S. when they were children, many of whom can recall no other home besides the U.S., currently have DACA. Their ability to remain and work in the U.S. has continued solely due to federal court injunctions since the administration’s rescission announcement on September 5, 2017. If they cannot remain, not only they and their families will suffer, but the U.S. economy will be damaged as well. A recent report by MeBIC coalition partner New American Economy notes that in 2017, nearly 94% of DACA holders were employed, while others were students not yet in the workforce. DACA holders contributed over $4 billion in federal, state and local taxes, and had over $19 billion in spending power that year.
The fate of DACA holders should not be in the hands of the courts. It is high time for Congress to get legislation across the finish line that would provide a path to permanent residency for those with DACA.
The House recently passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. The U.S. public overwhelmingly supports a path to permanent status for DACA holders and the so-called Dreamers, as does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the CEOs of some of the U.S.’s largest companies.
With a decision on DACA now due from the Supreme Court in its next term, Congress should act before the Supreme Court does and render the case moot by passing the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 by veto proof majorities in both chambers.