Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, issued a statement today attributable to Carl Holshouser, Executive Vice President, regarding President Biden’s actions to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and noncitizen family members of U.S. citizens.

“Immigrants are vital to America’s workforce, economic growth, and global competitiveness. They fill crucial labor shortages, create new businesses and jobs, spend their income on American products and services, and pay their share in taxes. In the absence of comprehensive and much-needed federal immigration reform, today’s announcement from President Biden will provide much-needed stability and peace of mind to hundreds of thousands of American families and the businesses that employ them."

Holshouser continued by emphasizing the contributions of Dreamers: “Dreamers, who arrived in the United States through no fault of their own, are actively contributing to our economy and society. Nearly half of DACA recipients have attained some college education, and 83 percent are in the workforce. They pay $6.2 billion in federal income taxes and $3.3 billion in state and local taxes each year, and their households hold $25.3 billion in spending power."

He also highlighted how the new process would benefit noncitizen spouses and children: “Today’s announcement will also help keep certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens together. This new process will allow noncitizen spouses and children to stay in the country while they go through the arduous process of becoming U.S. citizens. These families will no longer be forced to choose between being separated from their loved ones or abandoning their careers by leaving a country that has become their home.”

Furthermore, Holshouser noted how easing visa processes for noncitizen graduates could bolster U.S. economic interests: “President Biden’s action will also ease the visa process for noncitizen graduates of U.S. colleges and universities which will help attract and retain the world’s top students.”

In conclusion, he urged legislative action: “We applaud President Biden for recognizing the importance Dreamers and noncitizen family members of U.S. citizens have on our economic success and global competitiveness,” said Holshouser. “We urge Congress to work together and pass bipartisan immigration reforms that provide certainty for these individuals, their families, and America’s workforce.”