FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here’s what you need to know about hiring DREAMers and how they can help your business succeed. 

Who are the DREAMers?

DREAMers are undocumented immigrants who came to this country at a young age (their average age of arrival is 7 years old) and have grown up in America. They have attended our K-12 schools and colleges and are a part of our communities.

Are DREAMers able to legally work?

Yes. DREAMers with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) have renewable two-year employment authorization documents (“work authorizations”) that allow them to legally work. An employer does not have to sponsor a DREAMer with DACA – they can hire them just as they would any U.S. citizen. It is unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire a DREAMer with a valid work authorization because of their DACA status. 

What is the current status of DACA?

On December 4, 2020, a NY federal judge ordered the program to be fully reinstated to what it was before the Trump Administration attempted to rescind it in 2017, a reaffirmation of the June 18th Supreme Court ruling. DHS issued a statement reinstating the program on December 7, 2020, which opens it again for initial requests, applications for Advanced Parole, and 2-yr terms.

 Are DREAMers working now? 

Yes. More than 200,000 DACA recipients are working alongside their neighbors in essential roles to keep our communities safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Over 27,000 DACA recipients are working in critical health care positions on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis
• 16,000 DACA recipients work in education, including thousands of K-12 teachers
• DACA-recipients work at 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies—including Apple, General Motors, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Home Depot, Walmart and Wells Fargo

How have immigrants contributed to our economy?

Throughout history we have seen how immigrants’ contributions have helped our nation grow and innovate. Nearly half of all Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Google, AT&T, Pfizer – were created by immigrants.

What do DREAMers bring to our businesses and organizations?

DREAMers have the qualities we seek in employees – an ability to adapt, an eagerness to learn, and an incomparable determination to succeed that is borne out of their own stories of perseverance. They are often bi-lingual and bring multicultural perspectives that are critical to our businesses.