Time Marches On, Leaving Dreamers Eagerly Awaiting

Time Marches On, Leaving Dreamers Eagerly Awaiting

The Justice Department's announcement to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has set off a wave of concern, with the potential economic consequences being severe if a permanent legislative solution is not enacted.

As of August 2025, Congress has not passed a permanent solution for DACA recipients. The House passed the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) in June 2025, which would provide long-term protections and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and other groups. However, the Senate has yet to act on it or on the bipartisan Dream Act of 2019 reintroduced earlier this year.

The President has urged Congress to pass legislation, especially after granting a six-month delay on related court rulings. However, legislative gridlock persists. If no legislative solution is enacted, the potential economic consequences could be severe. A mass deportation or loss of protections for millions of immigrant workers, including DACA recipients, is estimated to cause a U.S. GDP decline between 2.6% and 7.4%, comparable to or worse than the Great Recession's recessionary impact. Deportations would not only remove jobs from immigrants but also destroy jobs held by native-born workers in complementary roles, potentially eliminating up to 2.6 million jobs for U.S.-born workers.

Critical industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality would face labor shortages, business closures, and sharp price increases, with price inflation estimated at about 9.1%. Additionally, federal revenues would decline due to the shrinking economy and loss of payroll tax contributions, affecting programs like Social Security.

The situation remains urgent, with advocacy groups pressing Congress to act before judicial rulings or policy changes undermine DACA recipients' status further. For instance, Javier Velazquez, a Dreamer entrepreneur in Georgia, employs six Americans through his digital marketing business, Uproot Online. His business contributes to the local economy by helping over 100 small businesses in the U.S. and Canada grow their digital footprint. If Velazquez's company disappears, one job is gone, and six other Americans' jobs are gone.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has banners outside its doors reading, "America. Built by Dreamers," featuring famous immigrants like Albert Einstein and Estee Lauder, along with Dreamer immigrants currently in the U.S., is also urging Congress to act. "We must enact legislation protecting DACA recipients prior to year's end," said Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber senior vice president and chief policy officer.

IBM, which employs 30 Dreamers in various roles such as software development, sales, and technical support, values their contributions. Christopher Padilla, IBM's vice president for government and regulatory affairs, emphasized, "Allowing Dreamers to contribute fully to the country they know and love is crucial for the nation's success."

President Donald Trump has also asked Congress to take the six months and come up with a solution for DACA recipients. DACA was a temporary fix created by President Barack Obama in 2012. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes that allowing Dreamers to contribute fully to the country they know and love is crucial for the nation's success. The clock is ticking for Congress to pass a permanent solution for DACA recipients.

1. The potential economic consequences of not enacting a permanent legislative solution for DACA recipients are severe, with a US GDP decline between 2.6% and 7.4% estimated, comparable to or worse than the Great Recession's impact.
2. Critical industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality would face labor shortages, business closures, and sharp price increases, with price inflation estimated at about 9.1%.
3. If no legislative solution is enacted, the potential job losses could be substantial, including the removal of jobs from immigrants and destruction of jobs held by native-born workers in complementary roles, up to 2.6 million jobs for U.S.-born workers.
4. Advocacy groups, such as Javier Velazquez's entrepreneurial efforts in Georgia, are pressing Congress to act before judicial rulings or policy changes undermine DACA recipients' status further.
5. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an organization that values the contributions of Dreamers, is urging Congress to pass legislation protecting DACA recipients prior to year's end.
6. IBM, which employs Dreamers in various roles, including software development, sales, and technical support, values their contributions and believes allowing Dreamers to contribute fully to the country is crucial for the nation's success.
7. President Donald Trump has asked Congress to take the six months and come up with a solution for DACA recipients, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes this solution is crucial for the nation's success, as DACA recipients are a vital part of the free enterprise, policy-and-legislation, general-news, and business and economy landscape.

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