According to a new economic study, the end of DACA would mean $460 billion in lost GDP, not to mention the bureaucratic and legal mess required to try and deport more than 700,000 young people. DACA recipients, or “Dreamers”, have used this program to better themselves (91% of DACA recipients are employed), our communities, and our country.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
Rather than encouraging talented, ambitious, highly-educated immigrants to continue to contribute to our culture and economy, Trump continues to make the immigration process more difficult and less efficient. Effective October 1, 2017, the USCIS will require in-person interviews for all employment-based green card applicants. Read more about the new interviews here. CIS has always had discretion to require a personal interview for any green card applicant, but for many years has almost always waived that requirement in the employment-based green card context. To quote a fellow immigration attorney interviewed for this story, CIS has understood that interviews of all employment-based green card applicants is a “colossal waste of everyone’s time”. As usual, when it comes to immigration Trump just doesn’t get it.
Trump continues to pander to his small, xenophobic base and is seriously considering ending DACA. Crazy, but true.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
In a cynical and cruel move, many of Trump’s aides have urged him to allow children in the United States under DACA to remain here as a "bargaining chip" to try to secure funding for Trump’s unnecessary wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Even Trump’s own supporters (over 70%) think Dreamers should stay in the U.S. and yet the fear always remains that Trump will cave in to the worst anti-immigrant elements of his base and eventually sacrifice the hard-working Dreamers who have lived almost their entire lives in the U.S. Read the full article here.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
The future of DACA is more uncertain than ever, as many DACA recipients and supporters worry that Trump is working to end the program and deport everyone who was previously protected. The constitutionality of DACA is being questioned by numerous state attorneys general, which could help Trump’s case. Although there have been no public statements from the White House regarding the status of DACA recently, the uncertainty is what is most concerning for those who have grown up in the United States and consider it their home.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
Not only is DACA good for the economy and family unity, but it’s also constitutional. We must never stop reminding our elected representatives at all levels that DACA reflects positive American values – compassion, positive exercise of discretion for deserving individuals, rewarding ambitious and responsible young people, and keeping families intact. Read The New York Times' article here.
Timothy R. Bakken
Founder
