YORK, Pa. (THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018) _ As elected officials in Congress debate the merits of a law to protect young adults who arrived undocumented as minors to the United States, also known as Dreamers, tonight in York, CASA will hold a DACA clinic to encourage those eligible to apply for renewals to do so.The program known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was temporarily extended last week after a California judge ruled that the way the Trump Administration ended the program in September did not follow protocol.

“We want to encourage those who contribute to the fabric of this community to renew their DACA applications if they can, while they can,” said CASA’s Regional Director Elizabeth Alex. “This is going to be a temporary step and that is why we are fighting in Congress to pass a Dream Act.”

For weeks CASA has been working to encourage the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress to support a Dream Act. With more than 20 visits in Congress as well as local offices, and thousands of calls and emails, CASA members have expressed the urgency in protecting Dreamers and beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status. Some of these Pennsylvania residents will begin losing their work permits as soon as March 5.

“It is such a crucial time for the more than 5,000 Dreamers in PA,” Alex said. “We want those who represent us in Washington to look into their hearts and know this it is literally the end of the line for these Dreamers.”

The DACA clinic will provide information for those interested in renewing their DACA application and will also provide information for eligible individuals who want to become citizens.
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Pennsylvania and DACA: The Facts

DACA in Pennsylvania
Young Adults Benefit from DACA 
In Pennsylvania, DACA has allowed nearly 5,900 young people to come forward, pass background checks, and live and work legally in the country.1
DACA Renewals 
In Pennsylvania, DACA recipients have had their protection renewed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security nearly 8,200 times.2
If DACA Ends, Losses to State Economy 
Ending DACA would cost Pennsylvania nearly $357.1 million in annual GDP losses.
National DACA Statistics
Youth Thrive Nationwide 
DACA has changed the lives of nearly 800,000 young people who have lived in the United States since their childhood, allowing them to better contribute to their families and communities.4
If DACA Ends, U.S. Loses Workers 
Ending DACA would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation’s economy.5
If DACA Ends, Losses to National Economy 
Ending DACA would result in a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the next decade
Young People Thrive Economically, Educationally
A recent nationwide survey finds that after receiving DACA, recipients moved to jobs with better pay (63 percent), gaining greater access to employment that matches their education and training (49 percent) and to jobs with better working conditions (48 percent).7
The Public Supports DACA
An April 2017 survey of registered voters found that 78% of American voters support giving Dreamers the chance to stay permanently in America, including 73% of Trump voters. Only 14% of all voters (23% of Trump supporters) believe Dreamers should be deported.8


1 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Number of Form I-821D,Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, by Fiscal Year, Quarter, Intake, Biometrics and Case Status Fiscal Year 2012-2017 (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2017).
2 Ibid.
3 Nicole Prchal Svajlenka, Tom Jawetz, and Angie Bautista-Chavez, “A New Threat to DACA Could Cost States Billions of Dollars” (Washington: Center for American Progress, 2017), available at https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/07/21/436419/new-threat-daca-cost-states-billions-dollars/ 4 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Number of Form I-821D,Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, by Fiscal Year, Quarter, Intake, Biometrics and Case Status Fiscal Year 2012-2017 (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2017).
5 Nicole Prchal Svajlenka and others, “A New Threat to DACA Could Cost States Billions of Dollars.”
6 Ibid.
7 Tom K. Wong, Greisa Martinez Rosas, Adrian Reyna, Ignacia Rodriguez, Patrick O’Shea, Tom Jawetz, and Philip E. Wolgin, “New Study of DACA Beneficiaries Shows Positive Economic and Educational Outcomes” (Washington: Center for American Progress, 2016), available at: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2016/10/18/146290/new-study-of-daca-beneficiaries-shows-positive-economic-and-educational-outcomes/. 8 Morning Consult and Politico, Morning Consult National Tracking Poll #170409, April 20-24, 2017, Crosstabulation Results, available at https://morningconsult.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170409_crosstabs_Politico_v1_AG-2.pdf.

http://files.www.iwj.org/resources/state-by-state-daca-fact-sheets/DACA_Fact_Sheets/Pennsylvania_DACA.pdf

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT FERNANDA DURAND 

[email protected]
cel. 240-706-2624

CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the country. We are a national leader in building power and improving the quality of life in low-income and immigrant communities. Our vision is for a future in which diverse and thriving communities live free from discrimination and fear, and work together with mutual respect to achieve full human rights for all. Over its 30-year history CASA has established itself as a strong national leader in innovations for Latino and immigrant-focused services, and backbone organization for collective impact involving community-based, government and private partners.