The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch
Blog Categories: Politics | News | Music | Do This! | Chow | Media | Cinema | Education | Fun in General | Arts and Culture | Sports | TV | more categories»
Monday, June 15, 2015
It's Been 3 Years Since Obama Issued DACA: Here's the Estimated Economic Impacts of His Immigration Relief Programs
Posted By María Inés Taracena on Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 4:30 PM
Today's the third year undocumented youth have been able to apply for President Obama's 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which granted permission to be in the country and work for a renewable two-year period.
It was estimated that roughly 700,000 young migrants qualified, according to the advocacy group Mi Familia Vota.
On Nov. 20, 2014, Obama announced an expansion of the DACA program and a similar relief for parents of U.S. citizen or legal resident children, a program nicknamed DAPA. However, on Feb. 16, a federal district court judge in Texas temporarily blocked both programs.
Currently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is solely accepting applications for people who qualify for the 2012 DACA.
The Center for American Progress' Silvia Mathema wrote about a recent report on the economic impact DACA, extended DACA and DAPA have/would have in each state. If the three programs are implemented fully, the U.S. economy would grow by $230 billion over the next 10 years, the analysis says.
An interactive map shows that about 137,000 people in Arizona are eligible for extended DACA and DAPA, which is more than half of the state's undocumented population.
Here are some of the Arizona numbers:
Cumulative increase in state GDP (gross domestic product): $6,199,000,000From the write up:
Cumulative increase in earnings of all state residents: $4,053,000,000
Cumulative increase in earnings of DAPA- and DACA-eligible workers: $3,378,000,000
Average annual number of jobs created: 780
The reasons why states see such large gains from the deferred action programs are similar to why the whole nation stands to benefit. Nationally, more than half the undocumented individuals have been living in the United States for at least 13 years with the majority of them working in our farms, factories, construction, hotels, and restaurants. If allowed an opportunity to receive temporary work permits, these immigrants will likely experience significant wage gains. These work permits will allow them to get jobs that better match their skills and protect against workplace exploitation such as wage theft. The increase in income of undocumented immigrants means that they will have more to spend on everyday goods and services. This increase in demand will have a ripple effect throughout the state’s economy, increasing the incomes of all state residents and creating jobs for all.Check out the state-by-state economic benefits on the CAP website.
Comments (11)
Showing 1-11 of 11
Previously in the Range
More by María Inés Taracena
-
Desert Angel
Every week, Joel Smith travels hours to fill water tanks in the Southern Arizona desert to help keep migrants alive
- Jul 28, 2016
-
Blood and Education
Negotiations between a teachers union and the Mexican government continue as a neoliberal education reform is violently imposed in the country
- Jul 21, 2016
-
Obama Administration Asks Supreme Court to Rehear Lawsuit On Immigration Relief Programs for Undocumented Parents, Youth
- Jul 18, 2016
- More »
Staff Pick
Tucson Greek Festival
Eat, Drink & Dance Like a Greek! Authentic Greek food and pastries Family friendly activities Live Greek… More
@ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Thu., Sept. 27, 5-10 p.m., Fri., Sept. 28, 5-11 p.m., Sat., Sept. 29, 4-11 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 30, 12-5 p.m.
1145 E. Fort Lowell Road.
Popular Content
- LD-2 Candidates Debate on Education, Poverty, Environment and the Wall (The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch)
- Claytoon of the Day: Why I Didn't Report (The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch)
- New Trump Plan Would Restrict Green Cards for Immigrants Who Use Public Funds (The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch)
- Ducey, Garcia Clash Over Education, Border Security in First Televised Debate (The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch)
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona Aims to Adopt Out 25 Pets on Friday (The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch)
