Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants are facing deportation amid new laws, and this has brought dire concern among California business owners in particular, believing that this will be detrimental to the country as a whole, as well as the economy. Despite heavy campaigning, it is looking unlikely that the bid will be successful by the end of this year.
Currently, undocumented immigrants known as “dreamers”, of which it is believed 800,000 are living in the United States, are set to have their protected status expire by the March 5, 2018. The Obama administration created a program titled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which protected minors who had arrived in the United States, usually with their parents, from deportation. As it stands, once their protected status expires, they will be unable to legally work in the country. This is especially concerning to California businesses, since over one-quarter of these immigrants reside in the state of California.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Inland Empire Economic Partnership President Paul Granillo said last week that “There is a great deal of urgency,” referring to the fact that it will take months to find a solution to a problem that will most likely become a reality in early March.
Frustratingly, Congress is not treating it as an urgent matter. While they are putting all their energy into tax reform, “Dreamers” are being left with limited options. Those who are affected by the termination of DACA should make sure to conduct research and look into their legal options to remain and work in the United States in the future.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, “California businesses push for 2017 immigration fix in Congress, but hopes fade,” Franco Ordonez, Emily Cade and Andrea Drusch, Nov. 27, 2017