Letter to Congress asking for relief for DACA recipients

September 20, 2017TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges Congress to act quickly to provide permanentrelief for the approximately 800,000 individuals who will be negatively impacted by therescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, commonly referred to asDACA.Since 2012, individuals have enrolled in the DACA program in good faith, gaining thelegal ability to attend school and work. As a result, they have become even further integrated intoour communities and the nation’s economy. DACA recipients are our friends, our neighbors, andour coworkers. According to some estimates, approximately 700,000 are employed in the U.S.,performing a wide variety of jobs across the economy.If the DACA program is allowed to end, eventually none of these individuals will belegally allowed to remain—let alone work—in the U.S.We are pleased to see the strong expressions of support within Congress and the Trumpadministration to provide permanent relief to DACA recipients that will protect them fromdeportation and put them on a track toward lawful permanent residency and, perhaps eventually,citizenship.The statements of support must now be turned into a legislative solution. The clock isticking.We urge you to expeditiously work through the reasonable disagreements over the scopeand details of a legislative solution as well as the inclusion of provisions to increase bordersecurity. The Chamber stands ready to work with you and the administration to ensure that thelegislation crafted is consistent with fundamental American principles and the best interest of thenation and the American economy.Sincerely,Neil L. Bradley