Mo Goldman: Now’s the time for Rep. McSally to stand up for Dreamers

The order was introduced as a stop-gap measure to allow Congress to work toward passing a more comprehensive immigration bill and to focus our limited enforcement resources more wisely. DACA provided work authorization to undocumented persons who came to the United States as children (under 16), also known as “Dreamers,” and met rigorous criteria including background checks.

I recall the exhilaration from many who wanted nothing more than to find a job, go to college and be a productive member of this great nation.

Meanwhile, dissenters had their doubts on how DACA would impact our economy. Considering the unemployment rate in June 2012 was at 8.2 percent and there were approximately 12.7 million people lacking jobs, opponents of DACA claimed that this presidential action would have a destructive impact on our country’s economic growth.

Let President Trump inform you about what has happened to our economy. In a recent robocall in support of Sen. Luther Strange of Alabama, he said “unemployment is at a record low, jobs are flowing back into the country.” Whether Trump was accurate in his statement, the reality is that in July 2017, the unemployment rate sat at 4.3 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the rate has gradually dropped ever since the introduction of DACA.

Wait, come again? DACA recipients didn’t hurt our economy? In fact, unemployment has been cut by nearly half since DACA was introduced and jobs are, apparently, “flowing.”

Despite these facts, the White House said Friday that the program is under review and could potentially be rescinded. Let’s go back to President Trump again to tell you what he said about the fate of DACA back in February, when he told reporters he would, “deal with DACA with heart.”

Rescinding DACA would show us what his heart is made of.

Approximately 800,000 individuals have come out of the shadows and have been granted protection. These brave souls sent in their applications knowing that they were doing so with the risk of being deported. DACA applicants have demonstrated courage. Businesses have benefited from their ability to legally work, recipients have been able to rent and buy properties, purchase vehicles and give back to our country as taxpayers.

We now need some of our political leadership to demonstrate some courage. In early April 2017, I met with Rep. Martha McSally in her Washington, D.C., office. During our meeting, she spoke of the dilemma of how we should deal with DACA recipients. She exhibited serious concern about how we should handle them and not just discard them from our workforce and society. She understood the fact that these individuals are woven into the fabric of our economic engine.

Now is the time for McSally to show even greater political courage on this critical issue. Her district and the surrounding areas have benefited from DACA and, unlike Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain, she has the president’s ear.

I call on Rep. McSally to speak up and let the White House know that DACA needs to remain while Congress works on a permanent fix. It makes sense on all levels.