Democratic leaders sent mixed messages all last week on the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and whether or not it would be a line in the sand for their votes in any end-of-the-year packages.
In addition to the previous week’s letter by 34 House Republicans calling for action on DACA by the end of this year, last week included the odd-couple Washington Post opinion piece by Apple CEO Tim Cook and Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch. Titled Congress Must Act on ‘the Dreamers,’ said,
“holidays are upon us, and families across the United States are coming together to celebrate. Yet for about 690,000 of our neighbors, colleagues and friends, this holiday season is marked by uncertainty and fear.”
There were hints that discussions may be taking place in regard to increased security measures that would probably have to be included in a deal but there is no clear public breakthrough.
A new resource is available through the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, an interactive CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT map that can show the estimated number of Dream Act eligible individuals by district.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
For a side-by-side chart of various DACA legislation you can read this analysis by the National Immigration Law Center. CWLA has endorsed the DREAM ACT bills. |
According to a recent survey, 97 percent of DACA recipients are currently employed or enrolled in school. More than a third of Dreamers are between the ages of 16 and 20. A Center for American Progress analysis, based on a survey of more than 3,000 DACA recipients in 46 states (the largest survey of DACA recipients to date), found that 45 percent of them are in school, and of those who are in school, 72 percent are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.