WASHINGTON, D.C. — Business leaders are urging Congress to act after the Supreme Court ruled today that the Trump administration did not provide an adequate justification for ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allows the program to continue.
DACA could still be subject to a second attempt from the Trump administration to end the protections for these Dreamers.
As part of the Corporate Roundtable for the New American Workforce, businesses from across the country are urging Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution to ensure that DACA recipients — who are estimated to contribute an estimated $433 billion to the GDP, $60 billion in fiscal impact, and $12.3 billion in taxes to Social Security and Medicare — will be able to continue living and working legally in the U.S. permanently, contributing to our economy and communities.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is momentous and provides interim relief from ambiguity for hundreds of thousands of young people across the country,” reads a statement from roundtable co-chair Walmart Inc. “We encourage policymakers to work on a permanent bipartisan solution that provides clarity and reassurance to those who came to the U.S. in a way that was outside their control. Walmart values these individuals as our customers and fellow associates, and supports legislative solutions that avoid disrupting these families, our communities and the economy.”
“DACA recipients are part of the fabric of our country — they are our colleagues and neighbors, said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “Amid economic uncertainty and at a time when legal immigration is being curtailed, the last thing we should be doing is destabilizing businesses who rely on these nearly 700,000 skilled workers.”
“Dreamers play an important role in our everyday lives as coworkers, business owners, friends and neighbors. They make an enormous, positive impact on American companies, communities and the economy, including as essential health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Corie Barry, Chief Executive Officer of Best Buy Co. Inc. “While Dreamers remain safe from deportation for now, Best Buy joins with business leaders across industries to urge Congress to pass legislation providing a permanent solution to allow DACA recipients to continue to live and work in the United States.”
“Cummins stands in full support of Dreamers and we ask Congress to take immediate action to pass the Dream Act or find a permanent legislative solution to support these young people,” reads a statement from Cummins, Inc.
“As a company whose network represents over 50% of foreign-born workers, it is our responsibility to stand in solidarity with immigrants that contribute so much to our company’s success,” said Soren Bjorn, president of Driscoll’s of the Americas. “We join other companies and industries in the Corporate Roundtable to collaborate on ways to best welcome and support a diverse workforce into our country.”
“Lyft applauds today’s Supreme Court decision to uphold DACA. Many drivers and riders in our community identify as immigrants or first-generation Americans, and we stand with them and Dreamers everywhere toward building a strong, inclusive society and economy,” said John Zimmer, Co-founder and President of Lyft.
“Today the nation planted the scales of justice squarely into the American origin story: one that is built by and for immigrants. Postmates applauds the Supreme Court’s decision to refuse to allow the Trump administration to move forward with its misguided and illegal plans to roll back DACA protections at this time,” said Vikrum Aiyer, Vice President of Public Policy & Strategic Communications at Postmates. “As an immigrant-founded company, Postmates is deeply committed to supporting and protecting Dreamers — the young people who contribute to our platform and American businesses across the country; who teach our kids at school; who serve in our military; and who are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our communities safe. Although the Supreme Court provided a temporary victory for Dreamers today, it is critical that we find a permanent solution for these brave individuals who make our businesses, our economy, and our country stronger.”
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