Texas Businesses Sign Letter Supporting a Permanent Legislative Solution for Dreamers

Tuesday, a group of almost 50 business leaders from across Texas released an open letter to U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, asking them to take up legislation that will provide a permanent solution for undocumented youth, also known as Dreamers. Signatories of the letter include: Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, Jeff Moseley, President & CEO of the Texas Association of Business, Stan Marek, Chairman & CEO of MAREK, and Chris Wallace, President & CEO of the North Texas Commission. On November 12th, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the DACA case and determine whether the termination of the DACA program was lawful. The court is expected to issue a final ruling in the spring of 2020. 

“We have seen that ​64% of Republican and 90% of Democratic​ voters nationwide support citizenship for Dreamers. We thus urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to earn the support of the American electorate on an issue that has remained unresolved for decades and prevented our nation from realizing its full potential,” the letter states. 

DACA recipient and San Antonio & Austin Business Outreach Manager Andrea Ramos Fernandez will be personally delivering this letter to Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz in Washington, D.C. on November 11th. “Dreamers such as myself need a permanent solution to this issue. We have helped the state of Texas thrive, and I believe that America can grow from our talent,” said Ramos Fernandez, a DACA recipient and San Antonio resident.  

According to a study by New American Economy, Texas has 226,115 DACA-eligible Dreamers, the second highest number after California. DACA-eligible Dreamers earn $3 billion in income and pay $473.3 million in local, state, and federal taxes, leaving them with $2.57 billion in spending power every year.  

Adam Lampert, CEO of Manchester Care Homes and member of the Texas Business Immigration Coalition (TBIC), stressed the importance of Dreamers in the state and national economy, stating, "Every economist agrees that improving the living standard for all Americans requires immigrants to drive workforce growth. Dreamers, all of whom are already integrated into the American experience, represent a valuable part of our workforce that is driving the growth of our economy."  

A complete list of signatories as of November 5th follows below, and the full text of the letter can be viewed on the TBIC website here.

Nearly 50 Texas Business Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Pass a Permanent Legislative Solution for Dreamers

SIGNATORIES

Adam Lampert, CEO, Manchester Care Homes

Al Flores, General Counsel & Senior Vice President, Gringo's Tex-Mex

Alberto Garcia, CEO, Uniformity

Alfredo Duarte, President & CEO, Taxco Produce, Inc.

Beth Bowman, President & CEO, Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce

Brad Todd, Former Principal, The Richards Group

Brenda Haupt, Owner & COO, Globe Products

Bryan Braswell, President, Braswell Custom Homes

Chris Wallace, President & CEO, North Texas Commission

Christopher Aslam, CEO, Rock Strategic

Dale Petroskey, President & CEO, Dallas Regional Chamber

Daniel Chu, CEO, Tricolor Auto Group

Daniel Rosandich, Owner, Tree Service by Dan

Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber

David Pfaff, CEO, Plastronics

Diana Flores, Board of Trustees Chair, Dallas County Community College District

Diane S. Sanchez, President & CEO, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Don Cumming, General Manager, Flex-N-Gate Texas LLC

Douglas Mumme, CEO, PDQ Staffing Inc.

Jaime Jacob & Courtney Balderas-Jacob, Owners, FLOAT

Jeff Moseley, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business

Jim Baron, CEO, Mesa Southwest Management

John Stautner, CEO, ETSZONE

Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Immediate Past Chairman, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Kate Gruy Jaceldo, Owner, Compost Queens

Kelle Marsalis, President & CEO, Plano Chamber of Commerce

Ken Malcolmson, President & CEO, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce

Krystelle Anaya, Owner, Trawood Family Dental

Laura Sanchez, President, El Ranchito and La Calle Doce Restaurants

María Santi, Director of Minority Outreach, Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce

Mariano Martinez, CEO, MRI, Inc.

Mary Ann Kellam, President & CEO, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Massey Villarreal, President & CEO, Precision Task Group Inc.

Mike Barillet, Owner, Valkyrie Vapor Shop

Nneka S. Achapu, Executive Director & CEO, US Bilateral African Chamber of Commerce

Noe Neaves, Chief Operating Officer, Watermark Power Solutions, Inc.

Norman Adams, Co-Founder, Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy

Pete Lerma, Principal & Founder, Richards/Lerma

Ramon Romero, Owner, A-Fast Tile, Stone & Coping

Randall White, President, Elettore

Richard Spies, CEO, Lucid IQ

Rick Ortiz, President & CEO, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Ryan Kline, CEO, Motionloft

Stan Marek, Chairman & CEO, MAREK

Suzanne Chen, President, Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce

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The Texas Business Immigration Coalition (TBIC), a member of the American Business Immigration Coalition, promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances Texas economic competitiveness, provides Texas companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs and citizens. For more information please visit www.texasbic.biz. 

The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC)  promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides American companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs and citizens. For more information please visit www.americanbic.biz.