Dream Act Would Boost NY Economy and Tax Revenues: Revoking DACA Hurts Both

On September 5, the Trump Administration announced that it would end DACA (Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals), the program for immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
DACA grants immigrant youth temporary relief from deportation and gives them authorization to work
lawfully in this country. The president then “challenged” Congress to provide a fix to the problem he
created—presumably with something like the Dream Act, a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who
were brought to the United States as children.

The Congressional Budget Office recently issued an analysis of the federal impacts. It showed a
projected increase in tax revenues, as well as an increase in social spending. On net, the CBO estimates
a cost over 10 years of roughly $25 billion—an increase in costs that is also an investment in future
economic growth.

What’s at stake for New York’s economic and fiscal outlook?