Congressional action is urgent with court cases putting DACA on the line and blocking relief for spouses of U.S. citizens, threatening to separate American families and push Dreamers back into the shadows
Al Cardenas: Inaction by Congress “not only morally indefensible but economically irresponsible.”
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 American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action) issued the following statement:
- Al Cardenas, CEO of VITAL and co-chairman of the American Business Immigration Coalition: “Enough is Enough: Congress’ inaction has brought DACA to the brink, threatening millions of families and risking severe economic fallout. Today’s 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—jobs that are vital to our economy. We call on Congress to act now—this is not only morally indefensible but economically irresponsible.”
- Rebecca Shi, executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition: “Revoking DACA would place an enormous financial burden on American 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 Americans. We urge Congress to advance bipartisan legislation for Dreamers, mixed-status families, agricultural workers, and other long-term immigrants—policies essential for the prosperity of all Americans. The stakes are too high for inaction.”
- Bob Worsley, co-chairman of the American Business Immigration Coalition and former Arizona Republican State Senator: “These 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.”
- Jenni Tilton-Flood, Maine Dairy Farmer with Flood Brothers Farm: “Businesses 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.”
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 press@zpstrategies.com.
Additional Background on DACA Hearing:
On September 13, 2023, a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas issued a ruling declaring that the DACA program is illegal—potentially 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 $433 billion to the GDP and $12.3 billion in Social Security and Medicare taxes over the next decade. Despite their impact, the program has been in limbo since it was ruled unlawful in 2021.
DACA’s 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’re most needed. In fact, three-quarters of DACA participants in the workforce—343,000 people—are essential workers.
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—making 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 “protect half a million spouses of U.S. citizens” and “approximately 50,000 noncitizen children” to ensure families stay together and to recognize their contributions to our economy. Shortly after the program’s implementation on August 19, 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led 15 other Republican Attorneys General in suing to block the program 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 remanded to the District Court which has maintained its stay on the program until a hearing on November 8. While we await the courts’ ruling in this case, ABIC Action urges families to continue to apply under President Biden’s Keeping Families Together program 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’s “Here to Work” campaign, which worked to shine a light on impacted families, advocates, and business leaders in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Nevada, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, 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 wildly popular and common-sense immigration solutions.