BAL joins coalition to support Dreamers legislation

BAL has joined the Coalition for the American Dream, a group of nearly 100 diverse companies, in signing a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to pass legislation to protect undocumented youth known as Dreamers, who are currently living, working and contributing to our communities.

The Trump administration announced in September that it will terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in March, giving Congress six months to enact a legislative replacement. President Barack Obama instituted DACA by executive action in 2012, shielding approximately 1 million undocumented youth, who were brought to the U.S. as children, from deportation.

The letter, dated Nov. 16 and addressed to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urges Congress to act before the holiday recess.

“DACA recipients contribute billions of dollars to the GDP; they pay federal, state, and local taxes; they work at our companies, teach our children in school, and serve in our military,” the letter says. “Deporting hardworking young individuals would cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars in lost GDP and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions.”

Read the full letter here.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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