- TBIC
Texas Businesses Sign Letter Supporting a Permanent Legislative Solution for Dreamers
November 6th, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Andrea Ramos Fernandez, (210) 367-2199, aramos@americanbic.biz
Juan Carlos Cerda, (214) 482-8698, jccerda@americanbic.biz
AUSTIN/DALLAS/SAN ANTONIO, TX– Today, 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
Charles C. Foster, Chairman, Foster LLP
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.
Eddie Treviño, Jr., Cameron County Judge & Chairman, Texas Border Coalition
Jeff Moseley, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business
Jeremy Jacob & Courtney Balderas-Jacob, Owners, FLOAT
Jim Baron, CEO, Mesa Southwest Management
Joe Estelle, General Contractor, GSI Construction
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