By: Ashmar Mandou
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin joined Clark Dietz, president and COO Chip Craddock, Clark Dietz transportation engineer and DACA recipient Ana Nino Flores, and American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) Executive Director and Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) Co-Chair Dave Bender during a press conference on March 5th to urge Congress to pass a legislative solution to DACA to keep 800,000 young undocumented immigrants ‘working, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy.’
“While the Supreme Court’s recent decision to reject the Trump Administration’s request to lift a federal court’s injunction blocking the President’s repeal of DACA is good news, the need for Congress to act is still urgent,” stated U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “We must avoid forcing thousands of talented young immigrants—including 20,000 teachers and 900 members of our military—out of the workforce and putting them at risk of immediate deportation. This is the time for us to make a choice about the future of immigration in our country.”
Illinois is home to 42,000 DACA recipients, 36,000 of whom are in our workforce. Without a DACA legislative solution, 13,000 DACA recipients nationwide will lose their work permits in March alone, and our economy stands to lose $460.3 billion in national GDP and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions. Congress must act swiftly to pass a legislative solution to DACA that provides certainty to Dreamers and their employers, and ensures that Dreamers are able to continue to contribute to our economy.
“DACA gave me a chance at a future. Thanks to DACA, I am able to do the engineering work I love for Clark Dietz,” stated Clark Dietz transportation engineer and DACA recipient Ana Nino Flores. “I design creative transportation solutions to improve the quality of life for all. I humbly plea for a feeling of true security and a decent life—not only for myself, but for my parents and the millions of immigrants across the US.”
“Ana’s hard work makes her an indispensable part of our team at Clark Dietz. She embodies our American values: hard work, self-reliance, and contributing more than she takes,” stated Clark Dietz President and COO Chip Craddock. “America will be much better off if DACA recipients like Ana stay and help us grow our economy. I urge Congress to pass common-sense DACA legislation immediately.”
