California Leaders Release Open Letter to the California Congressional Delegation in Response to the Decision to End DACA

Sacramento, CA — Today, local leaders in California released an open letter addressed to the California Congressional Delegation in response to the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The group cited economic data compiled by New American Economy (NAE) on the DACA-eligible population in the state, and called on the delegation to pass meaningful legislation that allows DREAMers to stay and contribute to the California economy.

The open letter to the California Congressional Delegation is released today by a cohort of state leaders who will lead the charge to mobilize signatures and support from additional leading voices across the state.

Letter to the California Congressional Delegation

As leaders and representatives of some of California’s most important industries, we are committed to making sure our state’s economy continues to grow and create jobs for all Californians. From family farms to innovative tech companies, and from main street businesses to the Fortune 500, California’s economy relies on all of our hard workers and taxpayers to drive our state forward. That’s why we strongly oppose the decision by the Trump Administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has helped thousands of young Californians pay their way through school, contribute to our state’s workforce, start new businesses that create jobs, and have the opportunity to call the Golden State home. 

Nationwide, there are as many as 1.3 million individuals who are DACA-eligible. The vast majority of them have graduated high school, and more than 90 percent speak English well or better. Collectively, they earn $19.9 billion in total income each year, and contribute more than $3 billion to federal, state and local taxes. Recent data from the Cato Institute estimated that deporting individuals with DACA status would cost the federal government over $60 billion, with an additional $280 billion in lost economic growth over the next decade.

In California alone, more than 316,00 young people are eligible for DACA, the vast majority of whom (an estimated 89%) are already working and contributing to our state’s key industries. These individuals pay more than $380 million in state and local taxes, and according to a recent study, removing them would cost California more than $11.6 billion in GDP every year. These young people are crucial to our state’s economic future, and it makes business sense to keep them in the country and allow them to work here.

We call on Congress to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act that will allow this population to stay in the U.S. and continue contributing to our workforce. Our future success depends on it. Let’s work together to keep the California economy strong.

Sincerely,

Paola Avila, Vice President of International Business Affairs & Leadership Development for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Julian Canete, President & CEO of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Pierre-Jean Cobut, Co-founder of Spry Health 

Dr. Ruben Guerra, Chairman of the Latin Business Association

Mayor Victor Lopez, City of Orange Cove

Derrick Seaver, Executive Vice President of the Silicon Valley Organization 

Caleb Zigas, Executive Director of La Cocina