City of Philadelphia Recognizes DACA 4^th Anniversary as Part of Immigrant Heritage Month

Philadelphia – Today, Mayor Jim Kenney and the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) recognized the 4th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which permits young people who were brought to the United States by their parents as children to remain temporarily in the United States.

“I am happy to recognize the anniversary of the DACA, as the young beneficiaries of the DACA program have provided inspiration in their pursuit of the American dream,” said Mayor Kenney.  “We must acknowledge that when we fully incorporate and integrate hardworking immigrants in our country, then the country benefits.”

In 2015, a new nationwide survey of DACA recipients was released by the University of California San Diego, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Center for American Progress, illustrates the economic and educational benefit of DACA with data showing that DACA has increased average hourly wages for recipients by 45 percent.

Key findings of the survey include significant increases in workforce participation and educational attainments:

A full 96 percent of respondents are currently employed or in school, showing that DACA has significantly helped recipients participate in the labor force.

69 percent of recipients are getting better, higher-paying jobs than they had before they received DACA, with 57 percent of them reporting moving to a job “that better fits [their] education and training” and 54 percent moving to a job with better working conditions.

92 percent of respondents who are currently in school say that because of DACA, they pursued educational opportunities previously unavailable to them.

The city welcomed two DACA recipients to discuss their experiences as immigrants in Philadelphia.  Julius Verdio Wibisono is from Indonesia and an alumni of Roman Catholic High School, and Brexy Pena Mencia is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, currently a student at Temple University.

This recognition of the anniversary also falls within activities planned for the City’s Immigrant Heritage Month, led by the Office of Immigrant Affairs.

“DACA will offer millions of Americans who are now threatened with deportation the opportunity to become full participants in our civil society, to find jobs and enter college – to pursue the American Dream,” said Miriam Enriquez, OIA Director.  “The Office of Immigrant Affairs is proud to be a partner in this 4^th anniversary celebration especially because it falls during Immigrant Heritage month, a time when we celebrate the American experience and we encourage all immigrants to tell the story of how they first felt welcomed to the American experience.”

The city partnered with the PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC) and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Pennsylvania (HIAS) on celebrating the anniversary.

HIAS Pennsylvania provides legal and supportive services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers from all backgrounds in order to assure their fair treatment and full integration into American society. HIAS Pennsylvania advocates for just and inclusive public policies and practices.

PICC is a diverse coalition of 50 member organizations and hundreds of individual members. Our membership includes grassroots community groups, service providers, unions, advocacy organizations, faith communities, immigrants and concerned individuals.  Our mission is to advance immigrants’ rights and promote immigrants’ full integration into society by advocating with a unified voice for greater public understanding and welcoming public policies throughout Pennsylvania.