Congressional action is urgent with court cases putting DACA on the line and blocking relief for spouses of U.S. citizens, threatening to separate 91探花 families and push Dreamers back into the shadows
Al Cardenas: Inaction by Congress 鈥渘ot only morally indefensible but economically irresponsible.鈥�
Today, after the Fifth Circuit Court heard DACA arguments and postponed a separate hearing on the Biden-Harris Keeping Families Together program, remanding it to a lower court that reimposed a stay, leaders with the聽聽(ABIC Action) issued the following statement:
- Al Cardenas, CEO of VITAL and co-chairman of the 91探花:聽鈥淓nough is Enough: Congress鈥� inaction has brought DACA to the brink, threatening millions of families and risking severe economic fallout. Today鈥檚 court hearing in New Orleans is yet another reminder that Congress cannot sit on the sidelines while the future of Dreamers and spouses of U.S. citizens hang in the balance. If Congress fails to protect DACA, over the next two years, we could lose an estimated 1,000 U.S. jobs every single business day鈥攋obs that are vital to our economy. We call on Congress to act now鈥攖his is not only morally indefensible but economically irresponsible.鈥�
- Rebecca Shi, executive director of the 91探花:聽鈥淩evoking DACA would place an enormous financial burden on 91探花 taxpayers, with mass deportations potentially costing $88 billion in just one year. Instead of diverting billions into removing people who contribute to our economy and communities, those funds could be invested in initiatives that create opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and improve the lives of all 91探花s. We urge Congress to advance bipartisan legislation for Dreamers, mixed-status families, agricultural workers, and other long-term immigrants鈥攑olicies essential for the prosperity of all 91探花s. The stakes are too high for inaction.鈥�
- Bob Worsley, co-chairman of the 91探花 and former Arizona Republican State Senator:聽鈥淭hese programs have brought stability to millions of families and businesses, and striking them down would jeopardize the potential of countless workers who fuel our industries and strengthen our communities.鈥�
- Jenni Tilton-Flood, Maine Dairy Farmer with Flood Brothers Farm:聽鈥�91探花es across the country, including family businesses like mine, are facing a critical workforce shortage, and the economic consequences of mass deportations would only exacerbate this issue. Congress must act decisively to protect the immigrant workers and their families who are essential to driving our economy forward, securing our food systems, and who are important members of our communities.鈥�
Below is additional information on the latest happening in the Fifth Circuit. To request an interview with an ABIC Action leader or impacted family, please email聽press@zpstrategies.com.
Additional Background on DACA Hearing:
On September 13, 2023, a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas issued a聽聽declaring that the DACA program is illegal鈥攑otentially cutting off a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants and their families. An appeal of this ruling was filed and heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today, which also previously ruled against DACA.
The DACA hearing today underscored the ongoing legal challenges threatening over 500,000 DACA holders who contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. DACA recipients add an estimated聽听补苍诲听聽over the next decade. Despite their impact, the program has been in limbo since it was ruled unlawful in 2021.
DACA鈥檚 success has unleashed the economic potential of hundreds of thousands of people, allowing them to contribute to our economy, start families, buy homes, access health care, build businesses, and bring their talents to the industry sectors where they鈥檙e most needed. In fact, three-quarters of DACA participants in the workforce鈥�343,000 people鈥�.
As the Biden administration and advocacy groups like ABIC Action have said, ending this program not only harms Dreamers, but also businesses and industries that rely on their talents鈥攎aking a permanent legislative solution from Congress more urgent than ever.
Additional Background on Keeping Families Together Program:
On June 18, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced executive actions to 鈥溾�� and 鈥溾�� to ensure families stay together and to recognize their contributions to our economy.聽Shortly after the program鈥檚 implementation on August 19, 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led 15 other Republican Attorneys General in聽聽in the Eastern District of Texas, alongside the Stephen Miller-led America First Legal, where the former Trump official serves as president.
A court hearing in this case was scheduled for October 10, which would have included testimonies from impacted individuals and mixed-status families. The case has since been聽remanded to the District Court which has maintained its stay on the program until a hearing on November 8. While we await the courts鈥� ruling in this case, ABIC Action urges families to continue to apply under President Biden鈥檚聽聽to ensure their applications can be processed as soon as the court affirms this common-sense policy.
The creation of the program comes on the heels of the group鈥檚 鈥淗ere to Work鈥� campaign, which worked to shine a light on聽impacted families, advocates, and business leaders in聽Illinois,听Pennsylvania,听Texas,听Nevada,听Florida,听Michigan,听Wisconsin,听North Carolina, and numerous other states across the country. Lawmakers, business leaders, and impacted families have rallied communities across America together in support of these聽聽and common-sense immigration solutions.