91% employed, many Dreamers would face layoffs; Silicon Valley angry.
Trump’s decision touches all aspects of immigrants’ lives
The Trump administration’s phaseout of a program that spares young undocumented immigrants from deportation puts nearly 800,000 DREAMers on edge and their future on the clock.
An unwinding of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, announced Tuesday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, allows some to keep their deportation protections for up to two more years. Without congressional action to give them permanent protection, those enrolled in the program must begin making decisions now about their jobs, schooling, military careers and future country of residence.
Those affected were brought illegally to the USA as children. At an average age of 25, many know no other country.
Ignacia Rodriguez of the National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles, which advocates for immigrants, said it’s
difficult for Americans to understand how drastic the move is.
“They have to look at every aspect of their lives and figure out, ‘ How does not having DACA affect this?’ ” Rodriguez said. “It’s quite scary and overwhelming.”
JOBS
A survey conducted by a University of California professor found that 91% of DACA enrollees are employed.
What happens once they lose their DACA status and work permit? Ian Macdonald, an immigration attorney with Greenberg Traurig, said even the most sympathetic business owners will have to lay them off if their permits expire.
Critics of the DACA program said the opening of nearly 800,000 jobs will be a boon for native- born workers. Roy Beck, president of Numbers USA, said Trump delivered a “wonderful Labor Day present” to unemployed Americans.
Business leaders said the opposite is true. Heads of more than 500 companies, including Apple, Facebook, General Motors and Google, sent a letter to President Trump arguing that DACA enrollees are “vital to the future of our companies and our economy.” The group estimated the USA could lose up $ 460 billion. SCHOOL Many DACA enrollees will still be allowed to study in high school, colleges and universities, but losing their protective status will make getting an education more difficult to afford.
Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, said DACA enrollees are ineligible for federal financial aid. That leads many of them to work side jobs to pay for school — jobs that will go away once they lose their work permits. MILITARY Undocumented immigrants could qualify for DACA if they served in the military. It’s unclear whether they will be able to continue doing so once DACA is rescinded.