Louisville, KY — Today, local Kentucky leaders responded to the announcement of the SUCCEED Act, legislation that addresses the uncertain future of DREAMers following the announcement to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The group urged the Kentucky Congressional Delegation to support reforms that allow DREAMers to remain in the economy and work to pass a solution this year.
“I am encouraged to see that Senate Republicans have acknowledged the urgency of this issue and have begun to provide a framework on solutions for our DACA recipients,” said Charles Baesler Jr., Immigration Attorney at Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC. “These talented and motivated young people are a critical part of our workforce, and deserve to spend their bright futures right here in America.”
“It is great to see that our government is recognizing the value that our hardworking DACA recipients have on our country,” said Luis David Fuentes, Owner and Publisher of El Kentubano in Frankfort. “I believe the SUCCEED Act is a step in the right direction in finding a real, permanent solution to provide these young individuals with a path towards citizenship, allowing them to continue to pursue the American dream. I hope our state delegation works hard to help bring a solution this year.”
The group called for solutions that harness the power of the foreign-born individuals eligible under DACA. According to the New American Economy (NAE) brief Spotlight on the DACA-Eligible Population, in Kentucky:
- As many as 5,459 Kentuckians are currently DACA-eligible
- Despite the rhetoric claiming undocumented youths are a drain on the Kentucky economy, 90.5 percent of the DACA-eligible population who are at least 16 years old are employed
- Kentucky’s DACA-eligible population earns almost $70.4 million in total income annually.
- Kentucky’s DACA-eligible population contributes more than $10 million in total taxes annually, $6.1 million of which goes to state and local tax revenue in the state of Kentucky
