DISSOLVING DACA MAKES NO SENSE ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY A Statement by Dr. Johan E. Uvin, President
Institute for Educational Leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 6, 2017 - As an immigrant and proud citizen of the United States, I cannot be silent about the proposed ending of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Dissolving DACA goes against American values of fairness and opportunity. Thousands of people chose to courageously to step forward and enroll in this program so they could work, go to school, and contribute to our societyDissolving DACA is unfair and robs people of the opportunities they worked hard to create. Dissolving DACA also makes no economic sense. The net labor force growth we need to sustain our economy depends on immigration. Without immigrants, we would not have enough workers to do all the work we need to do. DACA youth and young adults are well-trained and productive contributors to our workforce and economy.
A recent national survey analyzing the economic employment, educational, and societal experiences of DACA recipients, showsthat Dreamers are making a positive impact on our economy, earning higher wages, purchasing first homes, and creating new businesses. Building more effective pathways into the workforce to help all young people transition to adulthood is one of IEL's pillars. As we continue to help advocate for those who do not have a voice, we must remember we are a country of immigrants.
Dissolving DACA makes no social sense. Our 800,000 DACA youth and young adults have lived most, if not all, of their lives in the United States, and the DACA initiative has given them the opportunity to learn and grow safely without having to live in fear and wonder whether there even is a future for them in the United States.Our families make decisions about where they want to live. Why start a practice that holds children accountable for decisions of their families and tears families apart? Our Dreamers grew up with our children. They are our children. They share all of our values. Think about Alonso Guillen, who drove last week more than 100 miles south from his home in Lukfin, Texas, determined to help those trapped by Hurricane Harvey flooding in the Houstonarea. He made the choice to help and serve his fellow Americans but sadly died saving Harvey victims.
IEL stands behind all of the youth and families in our programs regardless of their immigration status, and believes that everyone in our country has the right to dream and feel safe in their community. 94 percent of Dreamers said that because of DACA they pursued educational opportunities. We will advocate with others for swift passage of the DREAM Act to enact DACA into law so we can all dream, work, and live together in peace.
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About the Institute for Educational Leadership For a half-century, the Institute for Educational Leadership has championed the need for leaders at all levels to shake off their institutional constraints and work across boundaries to address the needs of young people and their families. Bound by no constituency, IEL serves as a catalyst that helps policymakers, administrators, and practitioners at all levels to bridge bureaucratic silos and undo gridlock to improve outcomes for all young people and their families. The work of IEL focuses on three pillars required for young people and their communities to succeed: Involving the broader community with public education to support the learning and development of young people; building more effective pathways into the workforce for all young people and supporting the transition to adulthood; and preparing generations of leaders with the know-how to drive collaborative efforts at all levels.
