U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on DACA—Kentucky Chamber advocates for permanent protections for those impacted

As the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continues to be in jeopardy, on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments from those impacted to decide whether to reinstate or phase out the program affecting around 700,000 undocumented immigrants.

On Monday, over 50 chambers of commerce, including the Kentucky Chamber, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to create permanent protections for those impacted by DACA. In the letter, the business community stated DACA recipients earn $23 billion in total household income and contribute $4 billion in federal, state, and local taxes annually. Also, in a brief to the Supreme Court, business associations and companies warned the program phase-out would have a negative impact on the economy.

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a package to reinstate DACA, but the Senate has not taken up the issue. There is no expected timeline for the Supreme Court to issue a ruling on whether to restore the program or let it phase-out.

The Kentucky Chamber has actively advocated for legislation that provides permanent relief for people impacted by DACA. As businesses are trying to solve a workforce shortage, the Kentucky business community finds it important to keep immigrants in the workforce.