Why You Should Care

In case you may have missed it, 2016 is a Presidential election year. As a result, there are many important political topics being discussed right now. However, with the upcoming April 18th Supreme Court case, United States vs Texas, immigration reform is the hot one right now. If you plan on voting in the November Presidential elections, you will want to be as informed as you possibly can. Therefore, you need to learn all you can about not only how important immigrants are to the U.S. economy, but about the initiatives of DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents and the expansion of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), in order to make the most informed choice in the November Presidential elections.

How do immigrants help the economy?

• One only needs to look at the big cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston to see how immigrants help the U.S. economy. These cities are big destinations for immigrants, and “economic powerhouses,” where immigrants in these cities account for roughly “one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product,” (Hesson).
•  In California alone, where “about one-fourth of all undocumented immigrants live”, they add “about 130 billion to the states’ GDP annually,” (Ghadar). 
• In 2012 “immigrants founded 42 percent of America’s Fortune 500 companies. These companies subsequently created over ten million jobs and generated $4.5 trillion of annual revenue, about 30 percent of the US GDP,” (Ghadar). 

Could you imagine where the U.S. economy would be if immigrants ceased to exist in our country? How would we be able to compete in the global marketplace if we lost the GDP that immigrants contribute?

What is United States vs. Texas?

On April 18th, United States vs. Texas will come before the U.S. Supreme Court. Twenty-six states sued the United States over the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s executive action over the initiatives of DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents and the expansion of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). 

What about DAPA and DACA?

"Under DAPA, DACA and expanded DACA, certain unauthorized immigrants who have lived in the United States for many years and who either came to the country as children or are the parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents can come forward, register with the government, pass background checks, and request deferred action- a temporary protection from the threat of deportation," (Jawatz)

When we talk about DAPA and DACA, we are not only talking about immigrants, but we are also talking about U.S. citizens! The plaintiff states in United States vs. Texas are "threatening to tear fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters away from more than 2.6 million U.S.citizen family members with whom they live in these states," (Jawetz).

For more information about DAPA and DACA, click here.

We all have a right to vote. The right to vote was given to us, and fought for us, by our ancestors. Our ancestors were immigrants as well, as they came to America to escape religious persecution. There are many different reasons immigrants are still coming to America, but regardless their reasons, it is our duty to take care of our fellow humans. Therefore, immigration reform is not just a U.S. issue, it is a human rights issue!