Bill Overview
Title: Fight for the American Dream Act
Description: This bill authorizes individuals to enlist in the Armed Forces if that individual has employment authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. (The program, often referred to as DACA, allows certain individuals without lawful immigration status and who arrived in the United States as children to temporarily remain in the United States, subject to various requirements and limitations.) An individual who has enlisted in the Armed Forces under this bill shall receive lawful permanent resident status, if the individual is otherwise eligible for such status. The bill waives certain grounds of inadmissibility related to unlawful entry for such individuals. If such an individual receives a discharge from the Armed Forces that is not an honorable discharge before completing a period of obligated service, the Department of Homeland Security must rescind that individual's lawful permanent resident status.
Sponsors: Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]
Target Audience
Population: DACA recipients in the United States
Estimated Size: 580000
- The bill affects individuals within the United States who are part of the DACA program, who arrived as children and do not have lawful immigration status, allowing them to enlist in the Armed Forces.
- There are approximately 580,000 active DACA recipients in the United States as of recent estimates.
- The target population includes DACA recipients who are of enlistment age and meet other requirements to join the Armed Forces.
- This legislation will potentially impact individuals by providing a pathway to lawful permanent residence through military service.
- Globally, the bill doesn't have a direct impact except potentially inspiring similar policies in other countries.
Reasoning
- DACA recipients are a unique group that has been living in the U.S. without legal status due to circumstances beyond their control. This policy allows them a pathway to become lawful permanent residents if they choose military service and meet requirements, impacting their future status and opportunities.
- Given the budget constraints and the large potential target population, not all DACA recipients will be impacted immediately. Initial outreach, recruitment, and processing costs, as well as changes in wellbeing scores, need to be considered in cumulative budget assessments.
- Most DACA recipients are young, often contributing significantly to communities and economies in various occupations despite their precarious legal standing. Military enlistment offers one of the few legal paths to permanency under this legislation.
- Furthermore, societal opinions on such policies can vary, influencing public support and resources allocation. The policy might contribute to broader debates on immigration reform over time.
- The effectiveness of this act in changing the legal status for a significant portion of the DACA population will be limited initially but could set precedence and an increase in overall wellbeing over the long term as they gain legal protection and more socioeconomic stability.
Simulated Interviews
student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about the opportunity this policy offers.
- Joining the military isn't my first choice, but it's a pathway to stability and recognition.
- This can provide security not just for me but also for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
construction worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me hope for a better future.
- Military service is a big commitment but worth it for citizenship.
- My family would have more stability if I became a permanent resident.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
freelance designer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy doesn't apply to me as I don't plan on joining the military.
- It's a positive step though for many of my friends.
- I hope it paves the way for broader immigration reform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
nurse assistant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Military isn't an option for me because of family responsibilities.
- This policy might help others but won't change my situation immediately.
- I would like to see more comprehensive policies for all DACA recipients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
retail associate (Miami, FL)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a strong consideration for me.
- I see this as an opportunity to secure my future in the US.
- Legal residency would mean I can plan better for my career and life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
software engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might not benefit me directly as I'm not planning military service.
- I'm happy to see options for others but hope for more inclusive solutions.
- For my current status, it's just a small step in a larger issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
community college student (Austin, TX)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a real opportunity for me after college.
- It's comforting to know there's a path to permanent residency.
- This increases my options for the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
chef (Denver, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The military isn't feasible with my child, but this policy is a step.
- Hope it leads to broader reforms that might help me too.
- Proud of opportunities provided to others in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see policies providing options, though military service isn't my path.
- Prefer incentives in other sectors for legal residency.
- Friends might benefit from this, and that's positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
barista (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is tempting as a route to achieve my law enforcement goals.
- Military service could align with my aspirations and offer security.
- It'd mean a permanent place here for me and my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52500000 (Low: $31500000, High: $73500000)
Year 3: $55125000 (Low: $33075000, High: $77175000)
Year 5: $60562500 (Low: $36382500, High: $84622500)
Year 10: $76729981 (Low: $46037989, High: $107427974)
Year 100: $92368374 (Low: $55421024, High: $116617971)
Key Considerations
- The actual cost will depend heavily on the number of DACA recipients who choose to enlist.
- Long-term savings and revenue impacts will require DACA recipients to complete their military service successfully and integrate into civilian life.
- There may be political and social responses that could influence the execution and reception of this policy both in the military and civilian communities.