Ending DACA will harm American businesses and the economy as a whole

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Coalition for the American Dream, which comprises more than 100 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations representing every major sector of the economy and millions of U.S. workers, affirmed its support for an amicus brief filed today aimed at protecting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As the legal debate challenging the legality of DACA continues, over 50 leading U.S. companies, organizations, and trade associations today filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of the program. The Court of Appeals is currently reviewing a 2023 decision by the U.S. District Court Judge Hanen against DACA.

Nation’s Top Businesses Call for Certainty As Legal Debate On Program Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Coalition for the American Dream, which comprises more than 100 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations representing every major sector of the economy and millions of U.S. workers, released the following statement in response to U.S. District Court Judge Hanen’s ruling this week determining the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program illegal:

WASHINGTON D.C. The Coalition for the American Dream, which comprises more than 100 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations representing every major sector of the economy and millions of U.S. workers, released the following statement regarding reports of a potential bipartisan framework that could provide a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers:

American Business Leaders Say Current Labor Shortage Will Only Get Worse & U.S. Economy Will Lose Over $11 Billion Annually

WASHINGTON D.C. – More than 80 of the nation’s top business leaders sent a letter today to Congressional leaders in both parties outlining why Congress must act swiftly to pass legislation to help protect Dreamers, U.S. companies, and the economy this year. The letter comes in the wake of a recent decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of the State of Texas v. United States of America. The Court deemed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy unlawful, and it is expected that the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to uphold the ruling.

The letter was signed by many of the nation’s leading companies and trade associations that represent thousands of U.S. businesses, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others. It was also signed by top U.S. employers including Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Eli Lilly, General Motors, Hilton, IBM, IKEA, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Molson Coors, Target and Verizon, among many others.

The new letter and urgent call for action also ran as a full-page advertisement in today’s Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, and Charlotte Observer.

Coalition Statement on 5th Circuit Court Ruling Invalidating DACA

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Coalition for the American Dream, which comprises more than 100 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations representing every major sector of the economy and millions of U.S. workers, released the following statement regarding yesterday’s decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in State of Texas v. United States of America which deemed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy illegal:

Coalition for the American Dream Statement on 10th Anniversary of DACA

Nation’s Top Business Community Leaders Urges Action to Protect Dreamers& Economy

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Coalition for the American Dream, which comprises more than 100 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations representing every major sector of the economy and millions of U.S. workers, today released the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – or DACA – which was signed by then-President Obama on June 15, 2012:

Nation’s Top Businesses Call for Certainty As Legal Debate On Program Continues

Top U.S. Employers Urge Supreme Court to Protect Dreamers & American Economy

Ruling Makes It Clear That Congress Cannot Afford To Ignore This Issue Any Longer

"We’re encouraged by the bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to provide Dreamers with the ability to become fully contributing members of American society and economy. We understand and appreciate the need for member driven discussions on how to address other immigration and security matters as well. As a coalition, we strongly encourage legislators to pass a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers in this lame duck period.”

Remind Court “Eliminating DACA Will Inflict Serious Harm on U.S. Companies, Workers & Economy”

WASHINGTON D.C. – Over 140 of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations, which collectively represent nearly every sector of the U.S. economy, have joined an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on November 12th regarding the Trump Administration’s efforts to end the DACA program, and potentially subject 700,000 young people to deportation

The brief, which includes a number of U.S. companies that employ workers protected under the DACA program, illustrates the immense support from the U.S. business community for Congress to provide permanent protections for DACA recipients, for the benefit of employers and the economy more broadly.

The brief notes that, “Since its inception, DACA has had an enormous impact on the lives of over 800,000 young people who came to this country as children and know only this country as home. They are creating businesses that employ other Americans. And their increased wages lead to higher tax revenues and expansion of our national GDP— producing new jobs and benefits for all Americans.” The brief highlights that the rescission of the DACA program would harm U.S. companies and the entire country, noting Dreamers as valued employees, businesses owners and consumers who help grow the economy by filling jobs that otherwise would remain vacant due to an insufficient supply of workers, and that it would inflict enormous harm on individuals, companies and the economy. It also notes that the rescission of DACA itself is invalid. Lastly, it emphasizes the negative economic impact the removal of DACA recipients could have, stating, “Eliminating DACA will inflict serious harm on U.S. companies, all workers, and the American economy as a whole. Companies will lose valued employees. Workers will lose employers and coworkers. Our national GDP will lose between $350 and $460.3 billion, and tax revenues will be reduced by approximately $90 billion, over the next decade.

For any additional information and to view the full amicus brief filing, including the complete list of signatories, please visit: coalitionfortheamericandream.us

Additional Information: If you are reporting on this development, please consider the following on the record statements regarding the amicus brief filing:

“At Marriott, we have built our business by welcoming people from around the world, opening our doors to guests seeking new experiences and associates seeking opportunity. Dreamers are now fully part of our company’s fabric, and inspire us with their determination to contribute at work and to American life more broadly. Today, we urge the Supreme Court to consider the important role Dreamers play in our communities and in our economy. Marriott remains committed to finding a just, permanent solution for Dreamers who deserve a chance to live productive lives in this country.” - Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International

“We stand with Dreamers because we believe finding a path forward for those who have called this nation home since they were children is the right thing to do. We encourage Congress to prioritize this important issue and enact a legislative solution to legalize their status.” - Sandra Rivera, Chief People Officer, Intel Corporation

"IBM stands firmly by our DACA employees. They make invaluable contributions to our company and their communities, and they deserve to live and work in the only country most of them have ever known. We are proud to support IBM’s Dreamers before the Supreme Court and will continue working towards a permanent legislative solution in Congress." - Diane Gherson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, IBM Corporation

“Adobe would not be the company it is today without our rich diversity of employees, and that continued diversity is vital to our future. Today we’re proud to join 100+ other businesses signing the Coalition for the American Dream’s amicus brief, supporting more than 800,000 DACA recipients who contribute to U.S. companies and the economy.” - Dana Rao, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Adobe

“Dreamers have become an integral part of our society and our workforce and have the potential to offer so much more to our country if they can continue their pursuit of the American Dream. The NAM supports DACA’s work authorization for more than 800,000 individuals to help meet the workforce challenges facing manufacturers and to allow those people to continue to contribute to their companies, communities and families—as well as this country, which for many is the only home they have ever known.” - Linda Kelly, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Association of Manufacturers

“More than 170 years ago, an immigrant named Levi Strauss came to America and founded our company. He was pursuing his version of the American dream, just as Dreamers today are pursuing their version of the American dream. We must protect Dreamers and their aspirations to seize the opportunities our country affords and invest their talent back into our economy. It will make us all stronger. We urge Congress to find a permanent solution that will let Dreamers continue to work, study, and live in the United States.” - Anna Walker, Vice President of Public Affairs, Levi Strauss & Co.

“Dreamers are Americans in every way but on paper and want to continue to contribute their talent and entrepreneurial spirit to advance the U.S. economy. These young men and women are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and are overdue for a permanent legislative solution to ensure they can continue to contribute to our communities and the U.S. economy. Rescinding this critical program would create a harmful ripple effect across families and businesses, and create further uncertainty for these individuals.” - Jason Oxman, President and CEO, Information Technology Industry Council

"Airbnb was founded on the idea that people to people connections enrich our lives and advances the human condition. Those aren’t just economic or business values, they’re the values of America. Our purpose is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, which is why we’re honored to join other members of the Coalition for the American Dream in today’s announcement and amicus brief."
- Chris Lehane, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Communications, Airbnb

Contact Info: [email protected]

Top U.S. Employers Submit Amicus Brief to Supreme Court in Support of Dreamers

“Eliminating DACA Will Inflict Serious Harm on U.S. Companies, Workers & Economy”

WASHINGTON D.C. – With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments today regarding the Trump Administration’s efforts to end the DACA program, and potentially subject 700,000 young people to deportation, many of the nation’s top businesses and trade associations are urging the Court to uphold the rulings of lower courts across the country, while warning of the negative economic impact the removal of DACA recipients could have on the U.S. economy.

“Since its inception, DACA has had an enormous impact on the lives of over 800,000 young people who came to this country as children and know only this country as home. They are creating businesses that employ other Americans. And their increased wages lead to higher tax revenues and expansion of our national GDP—producing new jobs and benefits for all Americans,” the Coalition For the American Dream said today. “Eliminating DACA will inflict serious harm on U.S. companies, all workers, and the American economy as a whole. Companies will lose valued employees. Workers will lose employers and coworkers. Our national GDP will lose between $350 and $460.3 billion, and tax revenues will be reduced by approximately $90 billion, over the next decade.”

Last month, over 140 top businesses and trade associations, which collectively represent nearly every sector of the U.S. economy, filed an amicus brief in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The brief, which included a number of U.S. companies that employ workers protected under the DACA program, illustrated the immense support from the U.S. business community for Congress to provide permanent protections for DACA recipients, for the benefit of employers and the
economy more broadly.

“We have seen time and again that the overwhelming majority of Americans of all political backgrounds agree that we should protect Dreamers from deportation. We have also seen lower courts across the country rule in support of the DACA program and against this effort to end it. It’s now up to the Supreme Court to do the right thing and America’s employers will continue to stand with these thousands of young people,” the Coalition concluded.