The Repeal of DACA and Texas Essay
Security is the priority of all the countries of the world, but sometimes states use security as a tool against a certain group of people. In the US currently, the issue of security was correlated to the DACA. DACA is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals who are known as Dreamers. These are the people who came to the US when they were children as illegal immigrants with their parents. The DACA program (2012) was created by the former president Obama to protect these people from deportation as the problem of dreamers was contested in the 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 long renewable status to the people with benefits except for the status of citizenship prospects. Although it the benefits of having the dreamers in the country is debated, mostly stated benefits are a contribution to the economy and stated harms are that they steal job opportunities from the people of US. Hence, the DACA was rescinded by president Trump in September 2017 which will result in the deportation of around 800000 people from the US in March 2018 who were brought to the US when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 states of the US will be impacted more than others as they have higher numbers of DACA population who are actively contributing to the economy of the state. For instance, in case of Texas, around 124,000 dreamers could lose their jobs needed to be deported, if DACA program is revoked. For Texas losing 120,000 of the workers would reflect badly on the economy. Moreover, it will create harmful impacts on the dreamers. Thus, this paper will discuss the impacts of dreamers on Texas, and the US, consequences of revoking DACA and the current debates around the issue because it is crucial for economic development and stability of Texas.
DACA helped dreamers who were brought by their parents 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 educations. It helped the people gain better jobs that improve their living conditions. It also helps the US economy as the people work and contribute to the higher tax revenues. According to a survey, 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 was caused due to 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 will uproot the people who have lived and adapted the culture so well. Also, they did not come here because they were willing. They were brought here by their parents, so their legal status is their parent’s faults. 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 had many benefits for the DACA recipients, it affects Texas and the US in general. As Texas is the second state with highest DACA recipient and illegible populations, it 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 for the US economy. Currently, the recipient of the program contributes approximately $241 million to the local and state taxes yearly. And Texas could lose $79 million in the 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. But the illegible population if they are included in the program and if the program can persist the opposition of Trump, it will increase in the $54 million in annual revenue for the state of Texas.
Although, Texas will suffer economic loses if DACA is repealed, it does not have any law to support the DACA on the state levels. The country will decide the faith of the DACA recipients as well as the economic faith of Texas. Texas has the largest DACA recipient population due to which it will be affected a great deal from the DACA repealed. It will suffer more than most of the states with lesser populations. Consequently, it will lose highly educated and skilled workers who contribute to revenue generation and economic development of the state. Therefore it must have changed or made laws at state level to prevent DACA repeal.
Additionally, the program recipients are well-skilled people with 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 powers. Around 65 percent of them have bought their first car and homes. 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 the US citizens and repealing it will lead to them to lose their jobs. As many of the 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 population such 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 they are a threat to the security of the company. Although it appears a genuine concern, it is not true. In case of DACA, it is not true because they are well educated and skilled workers who are comparable to the people who enter the US with highly skilled working visa. Moreover, most of the recipients of the DACA are getting an education, and in training and after completion they will be highly skilled to contribute to the US economy. They generate economic opportunities for the people with 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 are must be under 31 years of age as of 2012. The person must have come to the US when he was under 16 years, and have lived in the US continuously. The person also needs to be enrolled in education and have obtained GED. The person must not be convicted or pose any security threats or public safety. Hence all of the information to assess a person is provided before receiving the DACA status to a person. Therefore, the arguments of these people being security threat are less likely.
To conclude, Texas will suffer serious economic loses if 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.
