Statement by Dale Petroskey, President & CEO, Dallas Regional Chamber, on Supreme Court Decision to Block DACA Termination

The Dallas Regional Chamber applauds today’s Supreme Court ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will remain in place, reversing President Trump’s 2017 order that the program be immediately terminated. While the decision does not eliminate future moves to end DACA, it does provide some certainty for DACA recipients that have started businesses or obtained advanced degrees, including nearly 29,000 health care professionals who are working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, are vital to our member companies, our economy, and our communities. As of 2017, more than 92,000 Dreamers were living and working in North Texas, earning $1 billion in wages and paying nearly $200 million in taxes, according to New American Economy research. These individuals have called the United States home for most of their lives, and have been hard-working, contributing members of our community. We urge Congress to pass legislation that would provide permanent protection for Dreamers. We need them for our workforce, and to grow our economy.