Washington, U.S.A. – American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds President Obama’s announcement of June 15 of a new Administration policy to stop deporting undocumented youth from the U.S. who would qualify for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.

“President Obama’s decision will enhance educational opportunities for deserving students, level the playing field for all children, and bolster America’s role as a leader in the competitive global economy,” said Richard Foltin, AJC’s Director of National and Legislative Affairs.

There are an estimated 50,000-65,000 undocumented students who graduate from American high schools each year. “Many came to the U.S. at a young age, have grown up in American schools, developed American values, and are American in every sense except their citizenship,” said Foltin.

Following President Obama’s announcement on June 15, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin a process for granting “deferred action” to undocumented youth who are in the U.S. and would otherwise qualify for relief under the version of the DREAM Act passed by the House of Representatives in December 2010.

Eligible individuals – including but not limited to those who are currently in deportation proceedings – will be allowed to remain and work in the U.S. for a renewable two-year period.

“While granting deferred action to these students is an important step towards desperately needed reform of our immigration system, we will continue to advocate for legislation that establishes a permanent path to citizenship for these DREAM Act students,” said Foltin.

Citing a UCLA study that concluded that DREAM Act participants could contribute $1.4-$3.6 trillion to the U.S. economy during their working lives, Foltin continued, “These students are vital to our nation’s future. Allowing them to stay in the United States not only benefits them, but also enhances America’s rich, vibrant, and diverse culture.”

Since its founding in 1906, AJC has been a strong voice in support of fair and generous immigration policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect, while allowing the United States to implement its immigration laws and protect our national security.

The National League of Cities

The following statement is from Don Borut, executive director of the National League of Cities, responding to President Obama’s decision to stop deporting young immigrants who came to the United States as children.

“The President has made a sensible decision to allow young immigrants who came to the United States as children and have little connection to their countries of origin to stay and continue to contribute to our country. This change reflects the many positive contributions that these individuals are making to local communities.

“The Administration deserves praise for recognizing the poor performance of the nation’s existing immigration policy. Today’s action only represents a small piece of the reform that needs to occur.  This change does not replace the urgent need for Congressional action to enact comprehensive immigration reform.”

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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James E. Mitchell, Jr., Charlotte City Council member and Past President of the National League of Cities, and Donald J. Borut, Executive Director, of the National League of Cities, are attending April 5th’s signing of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

NLC issued the following statement thanking President Obama, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and members of both political parties for their efforts to pass this Act:

While the economy is showing signs of improvement, it is still at a critical juncture. The JOBS Act creates a much needed source of capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs in communities across the country who have been stymied in their ability to participate in the economic recovery.

This is especially true for smaller, innovative companies that reside outside the traditional geographic regions for venture capital.  The JOBS Act will allow more communities to take part in the recovery by encouraging local companies to gain access to capital in order to grow businesses and expand employment.

Small businesses are the heart of Main Street.  In addition to employing local residents, they create a sense of place and support a city in developing its own talent and resources. This Act will help small and new entrepreneurs who want to take the chance to start their own business and create their own future.  It is this spirit of innovation that will drive a full national recovery in all of our communities.

Local governments regularly work across party lines, and this Act is a great example of what can happen when partisan rancor is set aside in an effort to rebuild our hometown economies. We hope it serves as an example for future bipartisan policy making, such as with the Marketplace Fairness Act, to help economic recovery in cities and towns across the nation.

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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