DACA Recipients in Wisconsin
October 13, 2023 | By Amanda Martinez & Liliana Barrera
Introduction
People have been traveling across continents for over 20,000 years. The concept of immigrating into another country wasn’t introduced until the late 1700s, when Congress passed its first law stating who qualifies for U.S. citizenship. The decision to legally define a U.S. citizen gave lawmakers the authority to create policies around who is welcomed into the country and who is not, then establish consequences for violations. In most instances, immigration is attributed to circumstances in home countries that are beyond their control, including violence, war, displacement, and lack of access to food and jobs.
As immigration evolves in the 20th century, new policies have been introduced to provide a more equitable environment for immigrant children and families. For example, one of the most impactful policies is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In the state of Wisconsin we have a growing population of DACA recipients.
Yet, some legislators in Wisconsin are making life harder for immigrant families in our communities. Fueled by fear, these decision makers uphold damaging narratives that are rooted in racism and xenophobia. For this reason, it is imperative that individuals in the community and policymakers support legislation that expands opportunities for immigrant communities and prioritizes the needs of immigrant families; especially in a state with a strong labor history and high migration population.
What is DACA?
In 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was signed into law by President Obama, temporarily shielding some Dreamers (immigrant children brought to the U.S. before the age of 16) from deportation, but not establishing a path to citizenship. Instead, it was designed as a two-year renewable protection to live in the U.S. with temporary authorization to work.
Who is eligible for DACA?
DACA qualifications include undocumented immigrants who:1
Came to the U.S. Before their 16th Birthday
Continuously reside in the U.S. from June 15, 2007 until the present
Enrolled in school or have graduated from high school or obtained a GED certificate
Have not been convicted of a felony
Demographics
DACA recipients represent approximately 150 different birth countries.
United States
As of March 2023, 578,680 individuals across the U.S. are active DACA recipients. The countries of birth of the highest DACA recipients2 currently are:
Wisconsin
As of March 2023, there are 5,790 DACA recipients out of about 10,000 individuals who are eligible for the DACA program.3
Education
The DACA program allows recipients to gain access to higher education, get better jobs, buy homes, and start businesses.
United States
In 2021, there were 409,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education.
141,000
of these individuals are DACA recipients or DACA eligible. 19.3% of those students were enrolled in a graduate/professional program.4
Wisconsin
16%
of DACA recipients were enrolled in postsecondary institutions in 2017.5
Workforce
Over 80% of DACA recipients are employed and pay taxes across the United States; however, they cannot receive any of the federal benefits their taxes help pay for, like Social Security, college financial aid, or food stamps.
In 2020, according to the Center for American Progress, nationally:6
142,100
DACA recipients who were employed in food-related occupations (farms, grocery stores, distribution centers, restaurants, etc)
12,800
DACA recipients worked in the farming and agriculture industry
11,600
DACA recipients worked in the food manufacturing industry, processing these agricultural products
42,000
DACA recipients were frontline health care workers or worked in the health care industry
4,900
DACA recipients were teachers
900
DACA recipients w/valuable language & medical skills had enlisted in the military under the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest Pilot Program in 2016
4,000
DACA recipients working in Wisconsin as of 20217
Economic Impact
DACA recipients from Wisconsin contribute to local, state, and federal taxes. Across the state, the taxes paid by DACA recipients go back into our local communities. Policymakers too often overlook the vital economic role and tax base that immigrants provide.
In 2021 DACA recipients living in Wisconsin contributed:
Get Involved
The Center for DREAMers empowers DACAmented students to achieve their higher education goals in Wisconsin. While the Center closed in October 2023, their website continues to provide critical resources.
Voces de la Frontera is a membership-based community organization led by low-wage workers, immigrants and youth whose mission is to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing and empowerment.
Workers Justice Wisconsin empowers workers to stand up for their rights, and brings faith, labor and other community allies together.
Endnotes
- “Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, updated September 18, 2023, https://www.uscis.gov/DACA.
- “Count of Active DACA Recipients By Month of Current DACA Expiration,” as of March 31, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/Active_DACA_Recipients_March_FY23_qtr2.pdf,.
- “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Data Tools,” Migration Policy Institute, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca-profiles.
- “Undocumented Students in Higher Education,” American Immigration Council, , updated August 2023, https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/07.23-Undocumented-Students_v3.pdf.
- “A Profile of Current DACA Recipients by Education, Industry, and Occupation,” Migration Policy Institute, November 2017, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/DACA-Recipients-Work-Education-Nov2017-FS-FINAL.pdf.
- “A Demographic Profile of DACA Recipients on the Frontlines of the Coronavirus Response,” Center for American Progress, April 6, 2020, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/demographic-profile-daca-recipients-frontlines-coronavirus-response/.
- “MPI National and State Estimates of Employed Workers among Current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients (as of June 30, 2021),” Migration Policy Institute, https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.migrationpolicy.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdatahub%2FDACA-MPIEstimates-Employment-June2021.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
- “The Demographic and Economic Impacts of DACA Recipients: Fall 2021 Edition,” Center for American Progress, November 24, 2021, https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-demographic-and-economic-impacts-of-daca-recipients-fall-2021-edition/.
Above Art by Susan Simensky Bietila, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DEED