Minnesota POCI Legislators stand with Dreamers and urge the U.S. Supreme Court to continue DACA
SAINT PAUL, Minnesota – Today the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the future of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that protects nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers” from deportation and allows them to remain in the U.S., work, contribute, and pay taxes. Figures show that more than 90% of DACA recipients have a job and nearly half are in school. As of August 2018, 5,670 Minnesotans have received DACA status, although 9,000 meet the criteria to apply for the program, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
“We, as Minnesota State Legislators, urge the U.S. Supreme Court to make the right decision allowing these individuals to continue building a life in the United States, often the only home they have known,” said Senator Melisa Franzen, DFL-Edina, on behalf of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus. “Why would these young people who simply want to continue living in the country that they were raised in, not be allowed to stay when it’s the only home they have ever known.”
“As the author of the Minnesota Dream Act and a longtime supporter of Dreamers, I strongly object to the federal government going back on a promise made to these enterprising young Minnesotans that they could study, live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation,” added Senator Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. “Promises should be kept!”
Minnesota-based businesses, such as Best Buy, Target, Ecolab, Cargill, UnitedHealth Group and C.H. Robinson, have spoken out in support of Dreamers. They are amongst several American companies that signed on to an amicus curiae brief filed earlier this year urging the Court to protect Dreamers and the DACA program. The brief strongly criticizes the actions taken by President Trump to end DACA and includes estimates for the economic impact of residents brought into the country as children.
The POCI Caucus stated, “We agree with these companies as there is strong evidence that Dreamers in our state contribute to our overall economy by working, receiving higher education, and joining the military. They have a right to live and work in our state and continue being a part of our community. Their home is here.”
The People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus includes Reps. Jamie Becker-Finn (42B), Aisha Gomez (62B), Hodan Hassan (62A), Kaohly Her (64A), Mary Kunesh-Podein (41B), Fue Lee (59A), Alice Mann (56B), Carlos Mariani (65B), Rena Moran (65A), Mohamud Noor (60B), Ruth Richardson (52B), Samantha Vang (40B), Jay Xiong (67B), Tou Xiong (53B), and Sens. Melisa Franzen (49), Foung Hawj (67), Jeff Hayden (62), Bobby Joe Champion (59), and Patricia Torres-Ray (63).
In addition to the POCI Caucus, Sens. Ann Rest (45), Chris Eaton (40), Kari Dziedzic (60), and Sandy Pappas (65) support the POCI Caucus’s message to the United States Supreme Court.