NEW YORK, June 3, 2019 – Today New American Economy (NAE), a bipartisan research and immigration advocacy organization, released a new report, “Overcoming the Odds: The Contributions of DACA-Eligible Immigrants and TPS Holders to the U.S. Economy,” which illustrates the impact DACA-eligible immigrants and TPS holders have on local economies across the United States. These findings take on new importance as the U.S. House of Representatives votes on the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) in early June 2019. Introduced by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the Dream and Promise Act provides permanent legal protections and a path to citizenship for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The bill currently has 232 co-sponsors in the House.

The report finds that DACA-eligible immigrants and TPS holders:

  • Are productive members of the workforce: In 2017, 93 percent of DACA-eligible immigrants and 94 percent of TPS beneficiaries were employed.
  • Pay billions in federal income, state, and local taxes: In 2017, DACA-eligible immigrants paid close to $4.0 billion in taxes, while TPS holders paid more than $1.5 billion.
  • Hold significant economic clout: In 2017, DACA-eligible individuals held $19.4 billion in spending power, while TPS holders held $5.8 billion.
  • Are job creators: In 2017, there were approximately 43,000 DACA-eligible entrepreneurs. More than one out of every 10 TPS holders, or 10.5 percent, reported being self-employed in 2017.

“For years now, Dreamers and the communities that depend on them have been trapped in a terrible limbo, wondering if they’ll be allowed to stay in their homes,” said John Feinblatt, President of New American Economy. It’s long past time for Congress to end this destructive uncertainty and pass the Dream and Promise Act.”

The brief also provides an overview of the diverse array of states that DACA-eligible immigrants and TPS holders call home, including California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas:

  • In 2017, 287,971 DACA-eligible people and 57,554 TPS holders lived in California. DACA-eligible residents in California earned $5.9 billion in total income in 2017 alone, paying nearly one billion in taxes, leaving them with $4.9 billion in spending power. TPS holders in California earned $1.2 billion in 2017 alone, paying $257.2 million in taxes. They held $988 million in spending power.
  • In 2017, 87,187 DACA-eligible people and 47,325 TPS holders lived in Florida. DACA-eligible residents in Florida earned $1.5 billion in total income in 2017 alone, paying $256.6 million in federal income, state, and local taxes, leaving them with $1.3 billion million in spending power. TPS holders in Florida earned $700.4 million in total income in 2017 alone, paying $131.7 million in federal income, state, and local taxes, leaving them with $568.7 million in spending power.
  • In 2017, 43,635 DACA-eligible people and 9,204 TPS holders lived in Georgia. DACA-eligible residents in Georgia earned $730.9 million in total income in 2017 alone, paying $120.6 million in taxes, leaving them with $610.3 million in spending power. TPS holders in Georgia earned $228.1 million in 2017 alone, paying $47.5 million in taxes. They held $180.6 million in spending power.
  • In 2017, 22,058 DACA-eligible people and 4,160 TPS holders lived in Nevada. DACA-eligible residents in Nevada earned $375.7 million in total income in 2017 alone, paying $52.8 million in taxes, leaving them $322.9 million in spending power. TPS holders in Nevada earned $105.9 million in 2017 alone, paying $19.5 million in federal, state, and local taxes. They held $86.4 million in spending power.
  • In 2017, 216,554 DACA-eligible people and 49,317 TPS holders lived in Texas. DACA-eligible residents in Texas earned $3.5 billion in total income in 2017 alone, paying $596.2 million in taxes, leaving them with $2.9 billion in spending power. TPS holders in Texas earned $1.1 billion in total income in 2017 alone, paying $224.3 million in taxes, leaving them with $905.7 million in spending power.

Readers can learn about the impact that DACA-eligible immigrants and TPS holders have across America in the full New American Economy research brief.