Security is the priority of all the world’s countries, but sometimes, states use security as a tool against a certain group of people. In the US, the issue of security is currently correlated with DACA. DACA is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as Dreamers. These are the people who came to the US when they were children as illegal immigrants with their parents. Former President Obama created the DACA program (2012) to protect these people from deportation as the problem of Dreamers was contested in Congress for around a decade.
The DACA program also helps them get a work permit, health insurance, education, and other similar benefits. The program gives two years of renewable status to the people with benefits except for citizenship prospects. Although the benefits of having the dreamers in the country are debated, most stated benefits contribute to the economy and the stated harms are that they steal job opportunities from the people of the US. Hence, the DACA was rescinded by President Trump in September 2017 which resulted in the deportation of around 800000 people from the US in March 2018 who were brought to the US when they were young children. It applies to the whole US, but some of the US states will be impacted more than others as they have higher numbers of DACA populations actively contributing to the state’s economy. For instance, in the case of Texas, around 124,000 Dreamers could lose their jobs needed to be deported, if the DACA program is revoked. For Texas, losing 120,000 workers would negatively affect the economy. Moreover, it will have harmful impacts on dreamers. Thus, this paper will discuss the impacts of Dreamers on Texas and the US, the consequences of revoking DACA, and the current debates around the issue because it is crucial for the economic development and stability of Texas.
DACA helped dreamers whom their parents brought to have certain benefits. DACA program offered security from being deported from the US for being illegal in the US to the Dreamers. It also helped them gain work permits to practice or get a job with health insurance and education. It helped the people gain better jobs that improved their living conditions. It also helps the US economy as the people work and contribute to the higher tax revenues. A survey shows that 72 percent of the 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA beneficiaries. Moreover, a study claims that it has reduced mental illness among the children of the Dreamers by reducing the levels of stress that were caused by the legal status of their parents. Also, the mothers were able to get better healthcare for their children and themselves which is shown in their children who are the citizens of the US. The reduction in mental illness is due to DACA which implies that their parents will not be deported and they do not have to separate from their mothers. It provided security. Consequently, it improved the well-being of the recipients of DACA.
However, repealing DACA would cause many problems for the Dreamers or DACA recipients as it would uproot the people who have lived and adapted the culture so well. Also, they did not come here because they were willing. Their parents brought them here, so their legal status is their parent’s fault. Moreover, most of them are settled in the US and repealing would detach them from their, friends and schools which will cause them stress and create mental health problems.
As DACA has many benefits for DACA recipients, it affects Texas and the US in general. As Texas is the second state with the highest DACA recipients and illegible populations, the population has a greater economic impact on the state. Around 124000 people are already recipients of the DACA program, and another 177000 are illegible for DACA in Texas. As the DACA recipients are mostly educated and employed people with high capabilities, they are assets to the US economy. Currently, the program recipient contributes approximately $241 million to the local and state taxes yearly. And Texas could lose $79 million in state and local tax revenue if the program is dismantled (Austin, 2018). As the Dreamers are a source of economic benefits for the state of Texas, it will hamper the economy if the program is repealed. However, suppose the illegible population is included in the program and the program persists in opposition to Trump. In that case, it will increase the $54 million in annual revenue for the state of Texas.
Although Texas will suffer economic losses if DACA is repealed, it does not have any law to support DACA at the state level. The country will decide the DACA recipients’ faith and Texas’s economic faith. Texas has the largest DACA recipient population, and it will be affected a great deal by the repeal of DACA. It will suffer more than most states with lesser populations. Consequently, it will lose highly educated and skilled workers who contribute to revenue generation and the state’s economic development. Therefore, it must have changed or made laws at the state level to prevent DACA repeal.
Additionally, the program recipients are well-skilled people with an increased participation rate and purchasing power. The DACA recipients contribute to the workforce with 83 percent of participation rates which is higher compared to all other males in the US as they have 79 percent participation rates. As they participate in the workforce, they have higher purchasing power. Around 65 percent of them have bought their first car and home. A total of 24 percent of DACA recipients are homeowners in the US. All these endeavors of the young people positively influence local and state revenues. Therefore, these people are not only beneficial for the state of Texas; they contribute to the economy of the US positively.
And revoking the DACA program will have a negative impact on the US economy as well as society. Repealing the DACA would be devastating for the employers as most of the DACA recipients are in good positions in Fortune companies of the US. The US economy will lose a total of 460.3 billion loss to the GDP from repealing. Also, around 6 percent of the recipients are engaged in businesses employing US citizens, and repealing it will lead them to lose their jobs. As many DACA recipients contribute about 24.6 billion to Medicare and Social Security, it will revoke these associations and contributions. It has dire impacts on the states which have larger DACA populations such as Texas where these people contribute to the workforce and economy in many ways.
Although many people realize the economic losses repeal of DACA has on the Economy of the US, the people who support repeal argue that DACA recipients steal jobs and are a threat to the security of the company. Although it appears to be a genuine concern, it is not true. In the case of DACA, it is not true because they are well-educated and skilled workers comparable to those who enter the US with highly skilled working visas. Moreover, most DACA recipients are getting an education and training, and after completion, they will be highly skilled to contribute to the US economy. They generate economic opportunities for the people by launching businesses in the country. Additionally, their skills meet the requirements of the jobs that they are taking. Hence, there is no evidence to support this claim.
The second argument is that they are a security threat to America. However, the DACA recipients are mostly educated, skilled workers with legitimate documentation. They do not fall into the category of illegal immigrants who many suspects are a security threat to a country. To be eligible for DACA, the person needs to meet certain criteria, which must be under 31 years of age as of 2012. The person must have come to the US when he was under 16 years, old and have lived in the US continuously. The person must also be enrolled in education and have obtained a GED. The person must not be convicted or pose any security threats to public safety. Hence, all of the information to assess a person is provided before a person receives the DACA status. Therefore, the arguments of these people being security threats are less likely.
To conclude, Texas will suffer serious economic losses if the DACA program is repealed because the DACA recipients are actively contributing to the economy and workforce of the state. Moreover, it will affect the US economy negatively. However, it will also have a negative impact on the Dreamers who have invested time, energy, and economic resources to be part of the US culture and society.
