DACA Not Expected To Have Major Impact on Northwest Agriculture

The clock is ticking on the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA.  Earlier this month, the Trump Administration announced Congress had six months to address DACA and come up with a permanent fix.  According to local immigration attorney Aliya Alisheva the current administration claims President Obama did not follow the proper rule making process when DACA went on the books in June 2015.

“When you pass a rule, you have to register at the Federal Register, and give 30 day notice.  They didn’t do that, and that’s one of the lawsuits that they brought, that they did go through the proper channels and hence the program is invalid.”

It’s estimated that DACA impacted roughly 19,000 people in Washington, and 800,000 people nationwide.  Alisheva noted the outrage over the six month time frame on DACA is extreme locally and nationwide.

“Most people do support it, from both sides, they support DACA.  The approval rate is about 80% of all people.  So, you’d think they’d have to pass something in the next six months, but you can’t really rely on it.”

Alisheva added DACA will not have a massive impact on Northwest Agriculture, since roughly 5%-10% of those participating in DACA seek a career in agriculture.

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