Bill Text: NJ SR17 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to enact legislation to codify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-04-12 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR17 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR17-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to enact legislation to codify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Senate Resolution urging Congress to enact legislation codifying the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Whereas, In 2012, former President Barack Obama established by executive action the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and
Whereas, Under DACA, some unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors, a group sometimes called "Dreamers," are given a chance to stay in the country, provided they meet certain conditions; and
Whereas, The conditions include coming to the United States under the age of 16, being enrolled in school, or having a high school degree or GED equivalent, or being an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or United States Armed Forces, and not having a serious criminal conviction; and
Whereas, Although DACA does not give permanent lawful status to those approved for the program, it provides a temporary relief from deportation, along with a social security number and work permit for a two-year period, along with the ability of to renew these benefits; and
Whereas, To many undocumented youth, DACA represented the first real opportunity to pursue the American Dream by permitting them to secure a job that matched their skill set. Since many DACA-eligible individuals are from low-income families, and undocumented individuals do not have access to federal financial aid, the ability to get a higher-paying job was important in their ability to finance higher education more easily; and
Whereas, Since its inception, about 800,000 young people across the nation, including 22,000 in this State, have received the benefits of the DACA program and its recipients have capitalized on the opportunity, getting better jobs, earning higher wages, increasing their participation in the consumer economy and paying taxes; and
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump in September of 2017 ordered an end to the program which may result, as early as March 2018, in making some of the DACA recipients eligible for deportation, unless Congress acts to save the program before it is phased out; and
Whereas, Ending the program would significantly harm our State's economy. Eighty-seven percent of New Jersey's 22,000 DACA recipients are working and contributing $66 million in State and local taxes each year and it is estimated that ending the DACA program would cause an immediate 32 percent reduction in those tax payments; and
Whereas, The State would also lose an estimated $1.6 billion each year in State Gross Domestic Product, which would be the fifth largest dollar loss of all states; and
Whereas, The negative effect on the State's economy is important, but it does not compare to the profound impact that ending DACA will have on the individual lives of young people in communities across our immigrant-rich State; and
Whereas, The decision to end the program will result in turning the lives of enterprising immigrant youth upside down, stealing their economic futures, and putting them in desperate fear of being separated from their families and communities via deportation; and
Whereas, Ending the DACA program is cold-hearted, shortsighted, and cruel, because it targets young people who are here in the United States through no fault of their own and will stifle their opportunity for a better shot at success and a chance to participate in America's economy and society; and,
Whereas, It is therefore critical that the United States Congress take immediate action to enact legislation to codify the provisions of the DACA program so that the Dreamers may continue their pursuit of a better future for themselves, and through their efforts and achievements, a better future for this country; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to codify the provisions of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to protect the young people of this country who have taken advantage of that program to pursue a better future and, through their efforts and achievements, the future of this country.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to codify the provisions of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
In 2012, former President Obama established by executive action the DACA program. Under DACA, unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors, a group sometimes called "Dreamers," are given a chance to stay in the country, provided they meet certain conditions including, coming to the United States under the age of 16, being enrolled in school, or having a high school degree or GED equivalent, or being an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or United States Armed Forces, and not having a serious criminal conviction. DACA does not give permanent lawful status to those approved for the program, but it does provide a temporary relief from deportation, along with a social security number and work permit for a two-year period, with the opportunity to renew.
New Jersey has over 22,000 young immigrants participating in DACA. The State stands to lose considerable tax revenues through the elimination of the protections of DACA, and would also suffer an estimated $1.6 billion loss each year in State Gross Domestic Product. This resolution urges the United States Congress to enact legislation to allow Dreamers to continue their pursuit of a better future for themselves, and through their efforts and achievements, a better future for this country.
