It’s time to once again invest in the ‘Dream’
Last month, Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Included in the bill is funding for expanded punitive immigration enforcement – despite the fact that many Americans would prefer for lawmakers to institute a pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth who grew up in our shared nation. While the bill does omit some of the most harmful proposals and spending increases, protecting immigrant youth from deportation is vital to their ability to safely and openly contribute to our society and, ultimately, realize that citizenship. In fact, this spending bill rejects many vital protections for Dreamers.
This coupled with harmful political rhetoric and President Trump’s most recent calls to militarize the border make for a frightening time for immigrants.
We have both dedicated much of our work on public policy to helping make sure immigrant communities are protected – both on campus and in the greater Philadelphia area. As expressed in our advocacy and hands-on efforts, we cannot sit idle while the people and communities we care so deeply about continue to be hurt by a broken system.
If you need proof of the positive impact sound policy can have, consider Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA enables young people to live their lives outside of the shadows of society, get an education and increase their earning potential. In Pennsylvania alone, DACA has allowed nearly 5,900 young people to come forward, pass background checks, and live and work legally in the country. DACA introduced new opportunities for recipients to come out of the shadows and openly contribute to their communities and society at large.
Despite its success, DACA’s future is in legal limbo, and Congress has not yet acted to protect millions of recipients and other immigrant youth from deportation permanently through legislation like the Dream Act. Contrasting congressional inaction, an April 2017 survey of registered voters found that 78 percent of American voters support giving Dreamers the chance to stay permanently in America, including 73 percent of those who voted for President Trump. Only 14 percent of all voters believe Dreamers should be deported.
We believe every person is equally imbued with potential and the right to realize their full promise. Harmful policies that work to undermine that spark of human possibility in people who are pursuing their dreams in the land they’ve known since childhood feel like a betrayal of our basic responsibility to one another. That’s why the vast majority of people in this country of opportunity about Dreamers.
As members of the Haverford College community, we are fortunate to be surrounded by leaders, students and an institution that care as well. Last year, Haverford instituted a Resolution Affirming Protection of Non-United States Citizens and Religious Minorities at Haverford College. While it is encouraging that our community took such a stance, how distressing that we had to. What a juxtaposition that our campus community seeks to provide safety, protection and freedom for students to live and learn, while our national leaders consider policies that will aggressively care alter many students’ forever. This is the Dreamers face daily.
As powerful as the humanitarian argument is, there is also a compelling economic case for lifting Dreamers from their plight.
Ending DACA would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation’s economy. The Center for American Progress reports that ending DACA would cost Pennsylvania nearly $357.1 million in annual GDP losses—$460.3 billion nationally over the next decade. Conversely, if Congress were to enact the Dream Act, which would protect more immigrant youth and put them on a lives peril track to citizenship, Pennsylvania could gain as much as $766.7 million in annual GDP.
The blend of economic and ethical values compels us to act. In March, 11 students from our college joined a group of more than 400 young people at the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL’s) Spring Lobby Weekend in Washington, D.C. It was inspiring to be among so many bold young advocates united with a laser focus on advancing compassionate, meaningful reforms to the immigration system rather than perpetuating endless, harmful immigration enforcement. However, the perpetual fear of Congress potentially ripping communities apart through both action and inaction is real. No matter what, we have to do whatever it takes to uphold humanity in this country.
Our immigration system is broken. Our approach to welcoming the stranger increasingly is detention, and it is tearing communities and families apart. President Trump rescinded DACA six months ago and promised that Congress would act, but action is long overdue. Lawmakers, including our Pennsylvania Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, can start by immediately enacting a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers who face an unknown future and are wholly integrated into our communities. Upon taking action for Dreamers, Congress can then turn to other reforms that will protect long-time contributors to our communities.
For Dreamers, other undocumented individuals, and advocates like us, the fate of DACA recipients arises at the intersection of justice and common sense. From that vantage, we remain steadfast in our commitment to respecting and safeguarding each and every member of this community, as well as to the shared dignity of all people.