Op/Ed: With thousands of Dreamers at risk of deportation, Indiana's economy could worsen

In Indiana, we are proud to be one of the best places to work and live thanks to our “Hoosier hospitality” that inspires us to value everyone’s contributions to this great state ― including thousands of Dreamers and DACA recipients.

Dreamers are immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children through no choice of their own. For the past decade, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has provided legal protections that have allowed us to recognize 9,800 Dreamers as authorized, contributing members of our state.

Indiana’s population of DACA recipients and other Dreamers are valuable members of our workforce and a catalyst to growth for our state. They generate over $26.7 million to the local tax base annually, fill essential jobs in the workforce and create jobs that provide new opportunities for Hoosiers.

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However, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that DACA was created illegally. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Dreamers nationwide remain at risk of deportation and removal from their essential roles in the workforce ― unless Congress acts first.

The ending of DACA work permits would equate to losing the contributions of 1,000 DACA recipients each business day for the next 24 months. Indiana businesses are dependent upon the essential work of Dreamers; losing their contributions will only worsen the struggles our families and businesses are already experiencing as a result of high inflation and ongoing labor shortages.

Removing Dreamers from our Indiana communities will cause our state to suffer over $516.4 million in annual GDP losses. The greatest impact will be felt in office administration, food preparation, construction, health care and manufacturing ― many industries that are already suffering from the impacts of a nationwide workforce shortage.

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Additionally, ending DACA comes at a large national cost. If the work visas of thousands of Dreamers are revoked, the U.S. economy will miss out on the $1.4 trillion that DACA recipients would generate for the economy if provided an opportunity to earn legal status and citizenship.

February polling shows that a supermajority of Americans want Democrats and Republicans to work together on immigration reforms this year that address the border and offer solutions to Dreamers and their employers, as well as farmers and agricultural workers. An August poll shows that over 60% of Americans believe that immigration reform could address inflation, high food prices and labor shortages ― top issues that voters are concerned about this year.

For over two decades, members of Congress have introduced bipartisan solutions to provide pathways for Dreamers to earn legal status in America. However, none of these solutions have made it over the finish line, despite clear support from a majority of American voters.

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Neither Dreamers or the American people can afford for Congress to continue to delay in providing a solution. Losing the contributions of Dreamers will have costly economic impacts, and Hoosier families and businesses will have to pay the price.

Our state and country need immigration reform that reinforces our border, provides solutions for Dreamers and establishes a reliable workforce for farmers and ranchers.

Congress must seize upon the urgency of the moment and deliver long needed immigration reform that provides relief to American people and businesses and supports the Dreamers who make our economy strong.

Gov. Eric Holcomb previously expressed his support for immigrants in Indiana, welcoming them as valuable members of our communities who “are ready to participate fully in our economy.”

By passing a solution for Dreamers that provides a pathway for them to become legal citizens, we recognize the numerous ways they have already been full participants in our economy and, in the spirit of Hoosier hospitality, welcome their continued contributions for years to come.

Greg Zoeller is Indiana's former attorney general and a member of the board of directors at the National Immigration Forum. 

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Loss of DACA recipients, Dreamers could devastate Indiana's economy