2017-07

Encouraging the Continuity of the DACA and DAPA Programs

SENATOR RICHARD MARTINEZ, CHAIR (NM) IMMIGRATION, HUMAN & CIVIL RIGHTS TASK FORCE

WHEREAS, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) advocates for the security and well-being of the immigrant community in the United States;

WHEREAS, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program allows immigrants who entered the United States before the age of 16 years old and were under 31 years of age before June 15, 2012 to be protected from deportation and obtain a work permit;

WHEREAS, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program allows undocumented parents of Americans or lawful permanent residents who have lived in the United States since January 1, 2010 to apply for permission to work and permission to stay in the country for three years;

WHEREAS, the immigration policies that have been presented by President Donald Trump through the Executive Order for Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements and the Executive Order for Enhancing the Public Safety in the Interior of the United States go against the policies of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans;

WHEREAS, the policies put forth through these Executive Orders threaten the present condition of documented as well as undocumented immigrants residing in the United States;

WHEREAS, according to the American Immigration Council, the current filing fee for Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, for adult applicants is $680 ($595 plus an $85 biometric fee) ;

WHEREAS, DACA and DAPA are programs to integrate the immigrant community to the social and economic fabric of the United States;

WHEREAS, the Executive Orders would threaten not only residents of border states, but also the immigrant community at large throughout the U.S., particularly people of


Mexican heritage, who comprise 64% of the total Hispanic population in the U.S. ;

WHEREAS, these Executive Orders run counter to the basic American values we hold dear and could inflict permanent damage on families and communities nationwide;

WHEREAS, the defunding of law enforcement and other federal programs assigned to so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions”, as stated on the Executive Order for Enhancing the Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, would be detrimental to national security and the safety of communities across America;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NHCSL encourages policymakers to promote and support legislation that would facilitate the naturalization process of immigrants in the United States;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NHCSL supports the continuity of the DACA and DAPA programs to ensure that the immigrant and Hispanic communities have the opportunity to continue being an integral part of society, without being discriminated;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED ON APRIL 30, 2017, AT THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC.

1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/25/executive-order-border-security-and-immigration-enforcement-improvements
2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/25/presidential-executive-order-enhancing-public-safety-interior-united
3. McDaniel, P. (2015, January 9). The Cost of Citizenship is a Barrier for Some Immigrants. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from Immigration Impact-American Immigration
Council:http://immigrationimpact.com/2015/01/09/cost-citizenship-barrier-immigrants/
4. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/05/01/a-demographic-portrait-of-mexican-origin-hispanics-in-the-united-states/#fn-18153-1