Dreamers Deferred
Any day now, the Supreme Court of the United States will make a landmark decision that will impact the future of thousands of people. DACA recipients often talk about how the program “sparked” something in their lives — and that spark is now being threatened (DACA: Talking… ). As the nation anxiously anticipates the Supreme Court’s decision on DACA, it’s important to know the facts about the program and its importance — both for immigrants and for the United States.
Introduction:
The United States is commonly referred to as a “melting pot” of cultures and languages. However, despite being a nation built upon immigrants, immigration policy in the United States has continued to grow more restrictive and volatile — the most recent example of which has been the controversy over DACA. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, more commonly referred to as DACA, is a program that would allow people who were brought into the United States illegally at a young age to avoid deportation. Rather, DACA recipients — also referred to as DREAMers — are allowed to “work, study, and obtain driver’s licenses” (Gonzales). Over 800,000 people in the United States are considered to be DACA recipients (Gonzales). DREAMers have to prove that they’ve lived in the United States continuously since mid-2007, and that they arrived in the United States before turning 16. In addition, DACA recipients must have no criminal record and must either be in school or the military. Even more, they are required to renew their status every two years. However, despite its stringent regulations, DACA remains as a temporary solution.
DACA’s Origin and Current Trajectory:
The original inspiration for DACA was a legislative bill called the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) that was introduced in 2001. However, it has yet to be approved by Congress — which is why the Obama Administration created DACA with an executive order in 2012. However, many members of the Republican Party strongly opposed the DACA program, which is why during the 2016 presidential election, then candidate Donald Trump swore to remove the program. But, when he became president, he started to change his mind. In 2017, President Donald Trump began to protect the DREAMers. While that seemed promising, the future of DACA continues to remain at risk, as recipients are waiting on the Supreme Court to make a final decision.
Controversy:
Much of the controversy over DACA lies within its economic impact. With over four million Americans unemployed,the White House claimed in 2017 that DACA recipients were stealing American jobs. Many conservative members of the government continue to argue that DACA hurts American jobs, but in fact, the opposite is true — DACA and the DREAMers actually promote the American economy and universities (Jan).
Economic Impacts:
While it remains true that many DACA Recipients have jobs, and that there is a 3.5% unemployment rate in the United States, DREAMers are in fact not stealing American jobs (US Unemployment). It makes sense that many people would believe that DACA recipients being employed would lead to less jobs for American workers to occupy. However, the United States is currently at full employment, with an unemployment rate less than 4% — meaning that there are more job openings than American workers can simply fill (Kurtzleben). DACA recipients fill the labor force market that American industries are quickly running dry. In addition, most recipients are very well educated — meaning that their abilities fill many of the open high-skill jobs in industries like technology.. When highly-skilled immigrant workers are unable to receive work permits because they are undocumented (like many DACA recipients were before the program), they occupy jobs that fall far below their skill level — taking jobs from low-skilled American-born workers (Jan). The DACA program reverses this, allowing for these workers to take higher positions that match their skills. This then opens up the low-skill jobs that they had been occupying earlier. In addition, both history and economic policy have shown a strong correlation between immigration and economic growth — as immigration increase productivity and thus economic growth.
Perhaps the most underrated and important aspect of the economy that DACA recipients and immigrants contribute to is innovation. According to research published by Stanford University, innovation “drives economic growth and productivity” (How Innovation…). This is incredibly important as productivity and innovation pushes economies forward, especially large economies like the United States. The implications of the correlation between innovation and economic growth are also important because immigrants and DACA recipients actually push for innovation. According to another study, “culture does influence economic creativity,” meaning that if innovation drives economic growth, and immigrants and DACA recipients drive innovation, then immigrants and DACA recipients drive economic growth (Williams & Mcguire). In fact, immigrants have made the United States “a leader” in technological innovation. Over half of the tech start-ups valued over one billion dollars were founded or co-founded by immigrants.
DACA and College Campuses:
However, the economy isn’t the only place where DACA recipients and immigrants drive innovation and creativity. Learning with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures “encourages collaboration and fosters innovation” (Kerby). Even further, diversity helps develop a strong community and creates academic competition. Studies have shown that, both academically and socially, diversity has had an overall positive impact — ranging from increased academic performance and stronger interacial relationships (Kerby).
Although, the numerous benefits that DACA recipients bring to the United States may have reached its end, as the United States’ Supreme Court is currently evaluating the future of the program. However, there is a potential way to help DACA students. Some states have began granting in-state tuition for DACA recipients, allowing them financial help in order to help them continue attending higher education institutions (Sims). In order to help DACA recipients, states like North Carolina can follow their lead — easing the financial hardship that students are facing.
Works Cited
“DACA: Talking to Recipients Five Years Later.” Time, Time, time.com/daca-dream-act-jose-antonio-vargas-time-cover-revisited/.
Gonzales, Richard. “5 Questions About DACA Answered.” NPR, NPR, 6 Sept. 2017, www.npr.org/2017/09/05/548754723/5-things-you-should-know-about-daca.
“How Innovation Drives Economic Growth.” Stanford Graduate School of Business, www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-innovation-drives-economic-growth.
Jan, Tracy. “Analysis | White House Claims ‘Dreamers’ Take Jobs Away from Blacks and Hispanics. Here’s the Truth.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Apr. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/09/06/white-house-claims-dreamers-take-jobs-away-from-blacks-and-hispanics-heres-the-truth/.
Kurtzleben, Danielle. “FACT CHECK: Are DACA Recipients Stealing Jobs Away From Other Americans?” NPR, NPR, 6 Sept. 2017, www.npr.org/2017/09/06/548882071/fact-check-are-daca-recipients-stealing-jobs-away-from-other-americans.
“U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls to 50-Year Low.” The White House, The United States Government, 4 Oct. 2019, www.whitehouse.gov/articles/u-s-unemployment-rate-falls-50-year-low/.
Sims, Lisa. Tuition Benefits for Immigrants, www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/tuition-benefits-for-immigrants.aspx.
Williams, Leslie K., and Stephen J. Mcguire. “Economic Creativity and Innovation Implementation: the Entrepreneurial Drivers of Growth? Evidence from 63 Countries.” Small Business Economics, vol. 34, no. 4, 2008, pp. 391–412., doi:10.1007/s11187–008–9145–7.
