Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry among 60 chambers across country calling on Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act to protect Dreamers and TPS holders

Local and state business leaders cite billions in tax contributions and economic growth as they urge Congress to act now

PHOENIX (May 30, 2019)—The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is among 60 chambers of commerce from 26 states calling on congressional leadership to pass the Dream and Promise Act to give a path to citizenship to Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. In an open letter, the business leaders recognize the important role these immigrant populations play in keeping our workforce young and competitive, contributing to the tax base, and creating jobs for all Americans. “Dreamers and TPS holders are essential, valuable contributors to the Arizona economy,” Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer said. “These individuals deserve a humane and lasting solution that ensures they’ll be protected from deportation and can continue to call Arizona and the United States home.” “Dreamers and TPS holders shouldn’t have to pay the price for the gridlock in Washington,” said Rich André, deputy director of state and local initiatives at New American Economy. “It’s time for Congress to do what makes sense for our businesses and for our communities.” Given the uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and TPS programs, chambers are calling on Congress to pass a permanent solution now. According to research by New American Economy (NAE), Dreamers make significant contributions to the Arizona economy. There are 36,182 DACA-eligible individuals generating $591.1 million in annual household income and contribute more than $99.8 million in total taxes annually, $50.2 million of which goes to state and local tax revenue. See the full text of the letter below: May 30, 2019 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: As business leaders representing our nation’s most important industries and regional economies, we are committed to promoting economic growth and job creation for all Americans. From manufacturing to agriculture, and from Main Street to Fortune 500 companies, the United States economy relies on our diverse, talented workforce to drive the country forward. That is why we are calling on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to create permanent protections for Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These protections would allow immigrants in our communities and across the country to continue to pursue their education, contribute to our labor force and tax base, and start new businesses that create jobs. Nationwide, there are 1.25 million Dreamers—immigrants brought to the United States as children—who are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. At the same time, 318,000 immigrants nationwide hold TPS protections that allow them to work in the United States, rather than facing life-threatening instability in their home countries. The current administration has attempted to terminate both programs, and while legal challenges have kept the programs alive for now, these immigrants could soon face deportation, often after decades in the United States. These immigrants are driving economic growth in our communities. According to New American Economy, individuals eligible for DACA together earn $23 billion in total household income each year and contribute $4 billion of that income to federal, state, and local taxes that keep our metro areas moving. TPS holders, hailing from countries like El Salvador, Haiti, and Honduras, are making similarly important contributions: Overall, this population holds $5.8 billion in spending power and the majority have lived in the United States for 20 years. Ninety-three percent of DACA-eligible immigrants and 94 percent of TPS holders were employed in 2017. Deporting these community members—including workers and employers, consumers and homeowners—would not only be devastating to families but also to local economies. Data from the Cato Institute estimates that deporting individuals who already have DACA status would cost the federal government over $60 billion, with an additional $280 billion in lost economic growth over the next decade. Deporting TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti alone would cost taxpayers $3.1 billion. With national unemployment at near-record lows, this is a scenario we simply cannot afford. While federal court injunctions are keeping DACA and TPS protections on life support, the uncertainty around these programs is preventing our immigrant neighbors from realizing their potential—as doctors, teachers, engineers, or entrepreneurs—to everyone’s detriment. There are several proposals to protect DACA and TPS, including the American Dream and Promise Act in the House and the Dream Act and the SECURE Act in the Senate. Americans of all kinds agree that a solution is necessary. As chambers of commerce, we cannot allow politics to stand in the way of economic growth. That is why last month, nearly 20 chambers of commerce from major metros across the country convened in Los Angeles to discuss the importance of immigration to our metro areas and build our agenda on this issue moving forward. But only Congress has the power to enact a real solution. We call on you to pass a bipartisan deal to protect DACA and TPS holders now. Our industries need that deal—and it will also lay the groundwork for the type of broader, commonsense immigration reforms that we need to compete globally. It’s time for Congress to put politics aside and do the right thing for our young people and for our economy. Our businesses and our communities depend on it. Sincerely,   Ames Chamber of Commerce Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Dallas Regional Chamber Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce (Arkansas) Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Fresno Chamber of Commerce Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Greater Des Moines Partnership Greater Houston Partnership Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Greater Louisville Inc. Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Greater Omaha Chamber Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Lancaster Chamber Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Longview Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce MPLS Regional Chamber Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce North Dallas Chamber of Commerce Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Pembroke Park/West Park Chamber of Commerce Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Salt Lake Chamber Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce San Antonio Chamber of Commerce San Antonio Hispanic Chamber San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce The Silicon Valley Organization Texas Association of Business Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Weston Florida Chamber of Commerce  

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