Voice of the Mainland: LULAC - The Economic Impact of DACA Recipients in the United States

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We are excited to release a new report, and here is the truth. DACA is not just policy. It is a heartbeat. It is steady, constant, and easy to take for granted until it is at risk.

The Economic Impact of DACA Recipients in the United States shows more than 525,000 people keeping that heartbeat going. Nearly 91% are working. They generate about $27.9 billion in earnings each year, pay over $6 billion in federal taxes and more than $3 billion in state and local taxes, and bring $25.3 billion in spending power into communities across the country.

Since the program began, they have paid roughly $40 billion in taxes and helped support up to 188,000 jobs through businesses they own.

But that heartbeat is not guaranteed. DACA must be renewed every two years. There is no path to citizenship. Courts are still deciding its future. For now, renewals continue, but the uncertainty is constant.

The strain is real. About 19,000 people renew every month. Processing times are longer. Requirements are tighter. Costs are high.

If that heartbeat is disrupted, the consequences will be immediate. Estimates show losses between $351 billion and $1 trillion, and about 450,000 workers pushed out of the economy.

Bottom line:

Pull DACA out and you don’t just lose workers, you lose up to $1 trillion in economic activity
Nearly 1 million U.S. citizens in DACA families are directly exposed to the fallout
Around 300,000 U.S. citizen children stand to lose stability, income, and in many cases health coverage tied to a parent’s job
Congress is the only fix. Delay carries a real price every year

Use this report. Share it. Put it to work. The data is strong. The case is clear.

In Community,