Senator Blumenthal Advocates for DACA Recipients and Resuming Applications

The Impact of DACA

• 💡 For 13 years, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has provided safety, security, and hope to young people brought to the U.S. as children.
• 📌 In Connecticut alone, DACA benefits approximately 3,000 active recipients who are integrated into the community as friends, neighbors, students, and essential workers.
• 📊 DACA recipients in Connecticut have lived in the U.S. for an average of 26 years, with 91% participating in the labor force, 92% holding a high school diploma, and 81% having some college education.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A significant portion, 30% in Connecticut, are married, and 17% have children, with 6,000 U.S. citizens living in households with DACA recipients.

Personal Stories of DACA Recipients

• 🌟 Agnes, brought to Connecticut at age 9, used a Rotary Club scholarship to attend university and, thanks to DACA, obtained work authorization, enabling her to pursue her career and eventually become a U.S. citizen, homeowner, and manager.
• 🚀 Another DACA recipient, who arrived at age 9, described DACA as "monumental," providing independence and the ability to build a desired future, inspiring her to pursue advocacy work and help other "dreamers."
• 🎓 This advocacy led to legislation in Connecticut for in-state tuition, financial aid, and college access for undocumented students, and she later obtained work authorization to oversee a leadership program for high school students.

Call to Action for DACA

• 🗣️ Senator Blumenthal referenced President Trump's past statement about needing to "do something about the dreamers" and Republicans being "very open to dreamers."
• ⚖️ He urged the administration to resume processing initial DACA applications outside of Texas, in accordance with the Fifth Circuit's ruling.
• 🤝 The Senator encouraged bipartisan cooperation to develop more permanent legislation for dreamers, recognizing their contributions and their right to build a secure future with a path to citizenship.