Congressional inaction on DACA is impacting the program’s recipients, even as a court order provides them with work and deportation protections for now.
DACA recipients say that the program’s limitations and the heated politics around it have sowed confusion among potential employers. According to Greisa Martínez Rosas, deputy executive director of United We Dream (UWD), that has unfortunately been a trademark of the program since its inception
“You’ve seen companies and employers have a lot of questions. What does this mean? Does it negatively impact their corporation?” she added. President Trump cancelled DACA in September and gave Congress until March 5 to replace it with permanent legislation however, a California court blocked Trump’s order, allowing DACA recipients to keep applying to DHS for renewals.
Karla Monterroso, CEO of Code2040, an organization that connects black and Hispanic applicants to tech jobs, said some companies in the industry are reluctant to hire DACA recipients. For some companies, the issue comes down to a time commitment since DREAMers only have work permits for 2 years.
While activists support educating potential employees and employers on best hiring practices for DACA recipients, most supporters of a DACA fix say beneficiaries will remain in precarious conditions until Congress passes legislation on the matter.
“I don’t think it’s fair to have them keep having to circle back every three years. It’s pretty hard to plan your life even if you’re 99 percent certain it’s an automatic renewal, that there’s the potential that three years from now you might not be renewed,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), a conservative Freedom Caucus member who supports DACA reform, told the Hill last month.
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