10 DACA Facts

1. DACA gives people relief from deportation and the ability to get a work permit, a Social Security card and state ID. Recipients are also allowed to pay in-state tuition to college in many states

2. Arizona and Nebraska were two states that tried to alter their rules to deny DACA recipients driver’s licenses, but were forced by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to allow it in 2014

3. Since receiving DACA, 77.7 percent of recipients got a job with higher pay, 67.2 percent bought their first car, 23.5 percent bought a home, 7.9 percent started their own business.*

4. Dreamers over age 25 work an average 40 hours a week with average annual earnings of $41,600.*

5.Ending DACA will cost Arizona an estimated $1.3 billion annually in GDP losses.*

6. The loss of DACA workers would reduce the national GDP by $433 billion over the next decade.*

7.DACA recipients are not eligible for federal financial aid, including loans, or any government subsidized services, including healthcare. They pay into Social Security but are not eligible to receive it.

8. The day after Trump announced ending DACA, attorneys general from 15 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against him to block the termination, saying Trump is motivated by racial animus.

9. DACA recipients are not all from Mexico, but all over the world.**

10. When applying for DACA, DREAMers entrusted the U.S. government with in-depth personal information on themselves and their families, with the understanding that sharing the information would protect them from deportation.

Various bills have been sponsored to give the DREAMers legal status. Here’s a roundup:

The American Hope Act is supported by Arizona’s Democratic Sen. Raul Grijalva along with 116 members of the Democratic Caucus.

Dreamers could apply for conditional permanent status, which would lead to a Green Card after three years. Time they’ve already had with DACA would count toward that three-year conditional period

After five years of conditional and permanent status, they would be eligible for U.S. citizenship.

They would be able to pay in-state tuition to college and access college loans.

The legislation would not consider educational level, military service or work history.

The Dream Act of 2017 is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. The White House has said it’s unlikely they will support this bill.

Some Dreamers would have a path to citizenship or permanent legal resident status.

Qualifications include having lived in the U.S. a certain amount of time and meeting certain educational, work or military-service requirements.

It would take 13 years or more to gain citizenship.

Recognizing America’s Children Act is supported by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ02) and 28 other Republican representatives.

The legislation provides a pathway to legal status through either higher education, service in the armed forces or employment.

After 10 years, they could apply for citizenship.

BRIDGE Act is sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Coffman. It stands for Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream and Grow our Economy.

This would more or less continue the current DACA program for three years.

Legal status would be dependent on education level or service in the armed forces.

It provides no path to citizenship.

This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2017.

One reply on “In Congress’ hands”

  1. There’s also the RAISE Act to limit legal immigration and give American workers (primarily minorities and lower income Americans) a raise in pay. But every liberal opposes it.
    Here’s a deal: pass the RAISE Act then pass DACA.

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