Texas Businesses Rely on Immigrants Now More Than Ever
Last month marked the 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy – a policy that has made a lasting, positive impact on Texas’ workforce, economy, and communities.
At the Texas Association of Business, we celebrate those who have a positive impact on Texas’ business landscape, and we work every day to support Texans’ successes across the state. We also understand the importance of securing our border and ensuring proper vetting for those living in and wanting to come to our country.
In light of border crossings recently reaching historic lows, Congress now has a golden opportunity to take action on long-overdue immigration reform that will not only bring stability to a broken system, but help supercharge the economy of our state and nation.
The DACA policy is a prime example of individuals contributing to our nation who are working, have undergone thorough background checks, and who have to regularly renew their status to ensure their compliance.
At a recent event TAB hosted on the topic of DACA, I heard directly from a local accountant and DACA recipient, Edilsa Lopez, who told her passionate story about the hardships she faced and the work opportunities that DACA has allowed her to pursue. She loves to work. She wants to work. And she’s not alone – I have seen firsthand the difference that DACA recipients and Dreamers make every single day in our workforce and communities. These individuals brought to the United States as children and raised here as friends, classmates, and coworkers, are integral to Texas’ economic strength and stability.
More than 89,000 DACA recipients call Texas home today, giving us the second-highest DACA population of all the states. DACA recipients in our state are teachers and engineers; they are healthcare workers and entrepreneurs; they fill labor force gaps that otherwise would be left open, and they help our industries to thrive. They are also paying taxes, growing our small businesses, buying homes, and supporting local economies in every corner of our state.
All immigrants in Texas, including Dreamers and DACA recipients, are critical to our workforce, and here in Texas, we have far more jobs than we have people to fill them. At the end of June, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak on a panel at the Immigration Policy & America’s Economic Future summit in Austin. At the summit, I was joined by several other Texas business voices who recognize the powerful impact that immigrants have on our economy and our society as a whole; at a time when Texas companies across sectors ranging from health care to construction are struggling to fill skilled positions, we cannot afford to push away talented, hardworking individuals who have already proven their commitment to this country. On average, DACA recipients in Texas have already lived here for over two decades – proving themselves to be Americans just like anyone else every step of the way.
Because of the far-reaching benefits of DACA, these Texans have been able to reach their full potential. In return, our economy has benefited significantly. Since 2013, DACA recipients in Texas alone have added well more than $16 billion to our economy in the form of taxes and other contributions. Their economic participation keeps Texas competitive, not just within the U.S. but on the global stage.
Additionally, according to recent data, immigrants are playing a substantial role in keeping prices low for Americans across the country. Immigration policies that would make it harder for immigrants to contribute are expected to raise costs for American families by $2,150 for goods and services each year by 2028. In Texas alone, our economy would lose as much as $35 billion annually.
Put simply: the impact of immigrants cannot be understated.
Despite these contributions, DACA recipients and Dreamers continue to live in an environment of uncertainty. The policy is under constant legal threat, and no permanent solution has been passed to protect them. Instability and unpredictability are the enemies of growth, especially when it comes to business. We need lawmakers to prioritize policies that reflect the value that DACA recipients and Dreamers bring to our economy and give them the stability they need and deserve.
It is time for Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides businesses the certainty they need to recruit and retain a stable, legal workforce to support their operations across industries. With the progress we’ve made securing our border, now is the time to enact real, permanent reform that prioritizes those who have been law-abiding, contributing members of our workforce, and who enthusiastically embrace the opportunities that the Texas economy has offered them.
Texas is stronger when we recognize talent, reward hard work, and invest in people who contribute to our prosperity. DACA has helped us to do that now for over a decade; it is time to permanently protect that progress.
– Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business
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