Center for Immigration Studies

January 12, 2018

Gang of Six “Deal” on DACA Is Not Serious

Proposal provides no net decrease in chain migration

Washington, D.C. (January 12, 2018) – A group of six senators has come up with what they call a “bipartisan deal” on a DACA amnesty, but judging by details obtained by the Center, the aim is actually maximum amnesty, minimum border security and no cuts to legal immigration, and not a good faith effort to reach a deal with either the House of Representatives or the President.

Here’s what they propose:

Amnesty for Dreamers, meaning DACA beneficiaries and other illegal aliens who arrived before June 15, 2012 (or claim to have) and were younger than age 17 (or claim to be) but did not qualify for or obtain DACA benefits. It is uncertain how much larger than the DACA program this amnesty would be.

DACA beneficiaries would have a period of conditional permanent residency, which may be lifted upon completing at least two years of college or military service or three years of work, or may simply lead directly to eligibility for citizenship after at least 10 years (or 12 if they did not have DACA).

The Dreamer amnesty would allow waivers for certain criminal convictions that exist under current law, if deemed to be “in the public interest.”

Applicants for the program would have to pay up on any federal tax liability, if they had a DACA work permit, but not if they worked illegally prior to legalization. Does this mean that a lot of DACA beneficiaries have not been paying their taxes all these years?

The Gang of Six claims to address chain migration concerns by barring legalized Dreamers from sponsoring their parents for green cards. Instead, they give the parents instant, indefinitely renewable legal status and work permits, thus exacerbating the labor market disruption and fiscal costs of the presence of these illegal aliens…read the complete version here, with educational links.