A decade later, Congress has yet to act on DACA.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

 

 

 

**The Only Country They've Called Home**

Good afternoon,

We are approaching the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of
the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
 program.
Established in June 2012 by President Barack Obama, DACA allows certain
undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, known as
Dreamers, to temporarily stay and work in the country on a renewable
basis. Although there are approximately 3.6 million Dreamers currently
residing in the U.S., only 653,000 are protected under DACA.

DACA has faced numerous legal challenges in the last decade, largely
because it was created via executive action instead of legislation. In
2018, a group of Republican state attorneys general filed a lawsuit
against the federal government's establishment of the program. Last
July, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled
 in
the case that DACA was illegal but allowed for a temporary stay on his
ruling. Currently, no new DACA applications can be approved, though
current recipients can continue to renew their status.

For many Dreamers, the United States is the only country they have truly
called home. They have integrated into American society and added value
to our nation while working and learning alongside U.S. citizens and
other immigrants.

Providing permanent status to Dreamers will help boost our economy and
labor market. It is estimated
 that
DACA recipients will add $433.4 billion to the GDP in the next ten
years. Although they have federal work authorization, DACA recipients
are often excluded from obtaining state occupational licenses
 which
are required for many middle-skill occupations. Just this week,
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed into law a bill that expands
 DACA
recipients' eligibility for certain kinds of professional
licenses. States that enact laws permitting DACA recipients to obtain
these licenses are not just improving the lives of Dreamers but also
addressing important labor shortages.

DACA's influence has also made its mark on American arts and culture.
One DACA recipient has brought his story to the musical theater
scene. Tony Valdovinos's
 family
came to America without documentation when he was two years old. It
wasn't until Tony unsuccessfully tried to enlist in the Marines that
he discovered he was undocumented. Enrolling in the DACA program has
protected Tony from deportation and allowed him to remain in his home
state of Arizona. His story is told in the musical, ¡Americano!
,
which is now showing at the New World Stages in New York City.

Recent polling
 shows
that there is broad consensus on providing a pathway to citizenship for
Dreamers. Yet without Congressional action, DACA recipients like Tony
face an uncertain future. Now, more than ever, we must urge Congress
 to find a bipartisan solution for Dreamers.

For more information on DACA, read the National Immigration Forum's
new policy resource
.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

P.S. The Forum's President & CEO, Ali Noorani, will soon be stepping
down from his role to continue his work at the Hewlett Foundation
.
We are looking for a strategic leader to guide the Forum's work into
this next chapter. Please read and share the job description
 with
your networks!

**Adam Estle**
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

**BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL: **Congress has had 10 years to address DACA and
still hasn't acted, leaving hundreds of thousands in peril

**ASSOCIATED PRESS: **Federal judge halts preparations for end of US
asylum limit

**AXIOS: **DHS outlines plan to secure border after Title 42 is lifted

**BLOOMBERG: **Senators to Convene Bipartisan Immigration Meeting After
Impasse

**ROLL CALL: **Supreme Court mulls attempt to end 'Remain in
Mexico' policy

 

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