Last week saw the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Richard Perez was asked to participate in a virtual press conference with several others across the state to acknowledge the history of this program that was designed to be a temporary solution.
The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce believes business is a force for good, and all businesses and entrepreneurs who are working to positively impact Texas’ dynamic economy need our support. This includes the estimated 5,000 DACA recipients in San Antonio who are building businesses and establishing career pathways that help our community. Perez wanted to acknowledge those individuals who have been able to build a life and help build our economy as recipients of DACA. But now DACA is frozen, and they remain in limbo. Meanwhile, thousands more motivated individuals are shut out of the process and cannot move into our workforce.
Establishing an earned pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented Texans would help millions of capable and hardworking people find opportunities to work, earn an education, and fill essential skills and labor gaps. These hard-working people are our neighbors, they are our friends, and they are a real solution to getting business moving. Our state is starving for workers while politicians struggle over immigration reform, and we are stuck with what was supposed to be a temporary solution.
Your Chamber is collaborating with others in the private sector to gain the attention of lawmakers to address this crisis. We have been steadily encouraging our Federal leaders to embrace the business case for immigration reform. We can improve the lives of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. at a young age, these Dreamers, by ensuring they can continue living, contributing, and filling critical roles in the state’s workforce.
We have been asking Congress to act to establish a permanent solution allowing DACA recipients to earn a pathway to citizenship, so they may lead their lives free of fear and continue contributing to our country’s prosperity. Your Chamber is seeking individuals and organizations who want to become more involved in this effort, please contact Katie Ferrier for more information.