The​ ​Honorable​ ​Elaine​ ​C.​ ​Duke Acting​ ​Secretary​ ​of​ ​Homeland​ ​Security Washington,​ ​D.C.,​ ​20528 September​ ​18,​ ​2017 Dear​ ​Acting​ ​Secretary​ ​Duke, We​ ​are​ ​writing​ ​to​ ​express​ ​our​ ​profound​ ​disappointment​ ​at​ ​the​ ​administration’s​ ​decision​ ​to​ ​rescind​ ​the Deferred​ ​Action​ ​for​ ​Childhood​ ​Arrivals​ ​(DACA)​ ​program.​ ​Although​ ​we​ ​deeply​ ​disagree​ ​with​ ​the decision​ ​to​ ​terminate​ ​DACA,​ ​we​ ​write​ ​about​ ​one​ ​aspect​ ​in​ ​the​ ​implementation​ ​of​ ​this​ ​decision.​ ​The decision​ ​to​ ​require​ ​all​ ​DACA​ ​recipients​ ​whose​ ​work​ ​permits​ ​expire​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​six​ ​months​ ​to​ ​have​ ​their renewal​ ​submitted​ ​by​ ​October​ ​5​ ​is​ ​a​ ​deadline​ ​that​ ​is​ ​impracticable​ ​and​ ​unworkable.​ ​It​ ​will​ ​result​ ​in​ ​tens​ ​of thousands​ ​of​ ​current​ ​DACA​ ​holders​ ​losing​ ​their​ ​legal​ ​status,​ ​protections​ ​from​ ​deportation,​ ​and​ ​ability​ ​to work​ ​legally​ ​and​ ​contribute​ ​to​ ​our​ ​nation.​ ​We​ ​urge​ ​you​ ​move​ ​deadline​ ​to​ ​January​ ​5,​ ​2018 As​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​the​ ​administration’s​ ​decision,​ ​close​ ​to​ ​800,000​ ​DACA​ ​recipients​ ​now​ ​face​ ​an​ ​uncertain future.​ ​97%​ ​of​ ​DACA​ ​beneficiaries​ ​are​ ​employed​ ​or​ ​in​ ​school,​ ​paying​ ​taxes,​ ​and​ ​contributing​ ​to​ ​our economy.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​USCIS,​ ​154,000​ ​DACA​ ​beneficiaries​ ​have​ ​expiration​ ​dates​ ​between​ ​September​ ​5, 2017​ ​and​ ​March​ ​5th,​ ​2018.​ ​Your​ ​recent​ ​announcement​ ​gives​ ​all​ ​154,000​ ​of​ ​these​ ​youth​ ​until​ ​October​ ​5, 2017​ ​to​ ​submit​ ​their​ ​DACA​ ​renewal​ ​applications.​ ​The​ ​artificial​ ​October​ ​5​ ​deadline​ ​to​ ​submit​ ​154,000 DACA​ ​renewal​ ​applications​ ​is​ ​unworkable​ ​and​ ​impractical​.​ ​It​ ​will​ ​result​ ​in​ ​tens​ ​of​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​current DACA​ ​holders​ ​missing​ ​the​ ​deadline​ ​due​ ​to​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​information,​ ​resources,​ ​or​ ​legal​ ​capacity​ ​to​ ​assist​ ​with application​ ​renewals.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​practical​ ​reasons​ ​to​ ​extend​ ​the​ ​deadline,​ ​allowing​ ​a​ ​public information​ ​campaign​ ​to​ ​properly​ ​inform​ ​the​ ​youth​ ​of​ ​this​ ​sudden​ ​and​ ​unexpected​ ​change. The​ ​actual​ ​effect​ ​of​ ​this​ ​Oct.​ ​5​ ​deadline​ ​is​ ​that​ ​there​ ​must​ ​be​ ​5,433​ ​applications​ ​filed​ ​every​ ​single​ ​day, including​ ​weekends,​ ​if​ ​the​ ​154,000​ ​current​ ​DACA​ ​holders​ ​whose​ ​permissions​ ​expire​ ​over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​six months​ ​are​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​renew​ ​their​ ​DACA.​ ​This​ ​would​ ​mean​ ​214​ ​applications​ ​must​ ​be​ ​filed every​ ​single​ ​hour,​ ​all​ ​night​ ​long,​ ​for​ ​30​ ​days. The​ ​result​ ​of​ ​this​ ​impractical​ ​deadline​ ​is​ ​that​ ​tens​ ​of​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​DACA​ ​recipients​ ​will​ ​lose​ ​their​ ​status, their​ ​jobs,​ ​their​ ​homes,​ ​and​ ​their​ ​security​ ​and​ ​be​ ​pushed​ ​back​ ​into​ ​the​ ​shadows​ ​from​ ​which​ ​they​ ​had​ ​once proudly​ ​emerged. Given​ ​the​ ​devastating​ ​consequences​ ​of​ ​the​ ​October​ ​5​ ​deadline​ ​for​ ​DACA​ ​renewal​ ​applications,​ ​we urge​ ​you​ ​move​ ​deadline​ ​to​ ​January​ ​5,​ ​2018. Respectfully​ ​submitted,

 

Business​ ​Leaders: Carole​ ​and​ ​Gordon​ ​Segal Co-Founders Crate​ ​and​ ​Barrel Co-Chair,​ ​Illinois​ ​Business​ ​Immigration​ ​Coalition John​ ​Rowe Chairman​ ​Emeritus Exelon​ ​Corporation Co-Chair,​ ​Illinois​ ​Business​ ​Immigration​ ​Coalition Mike​ ​Fernandez Chairman MBF​ ​Healthcare Chairman,​ ​IMPAC​ ​Fund National​ ​Partnership​ ​for​ ​New​ ​Americans​ ​(NPNA)​ ​co-chairs: Eva​ ​Millona Executive​ ​Director Massachusetts​ ​Immigrant​ ​and​ ​Refugee​ ​Advocacy​ ​Coalition​ ​(MIRA) Steve​ ​Choi Executive​ ​Director New​ ​York​ ​Immigration​ ​Coalition​ ​(NYIC) About​ ​IBIC:​ ​The​ ​Illinois​ ​Business​ ​Immigration​ ​Coalition​ ​promotes​ ​commonsense​ ​immigration​ ​reform​ ​that advances​ ​Illinois​ ​economic​ ​competitiveness,​ ​provides​ ​Illinois​ ​companies​ ​with​ ​both​ ​the​ ​high-skilled​ ​and low-skilled​ ​talent​ ​they​ ​need,​ ​and​ ​allows​ ​the​ ​integration​ ​of​ ​immigrants​ ​into​ ​our​ ​economy​ ​as​ ​consumers, workers,​ ​entrepreneurs​ ​and​ ​citizens.​ ​For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​www.illinoisbic.biz. About​ ​NPNA:​ ​The​ ​National​ ​Partnership​ ​for​ ​New​ ​Americans​ ​harnesses​ ​the​ ​collective​ ​power​ ​and​ ​resources of​ ​the​ ​country’s​ ​37​ ​largest​ ​regional​ ​immigrant​ ​rights​ ​organizations​ ​in​ ​30​ ​states​ ​to​ ​work​ ​for​ ​immigrant integration,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​more​ ​welcoming,​ ​successful​ ​democracy​ ​for​ ​all. CC:​ ​Mr.​ ​James​ ​McCament,​ ​Acting​ ​Director,​ ​U.S.​ ​Citizenship​ ​and​ ​Immigration​ ​Services​ ​(USCIS) CC:​ ​Ms.​ ​Veronica​ ​Venture,​ ​Acting​ ​Officer,​ ​DHS​ ​Office​ ​for​ ​Civil​ ​Rights​ ​and​ ​Civil​ ​Liberties​ ​(CRCL) With​ ​additional​ ​business​ ​and​ ​community​ ​leaders: Samuel​ ​C.​ ​Scott​ ​III Chairman Chicago​ ​Sister​ ​Cities​ ​International​ ​Program

Marc​ ​S.​ ​Schulman President Eli's​ ​Cheesecake Sam​ ​Yagan Co-founder​ ​of​ ​OkCupid Co-founder​ ​of​ ​SparkNotes Vice-Chairman​ ​of​ ​Match.com CEO​ ​of​ ​Shoprunner Dr.​ ​Mohammed​ ​Zaher​ ​Sahloul President Pulmonary​ ​Consultants Barbara​ ​Grogan Founder,​ ​Western​ ​Industrial​ ​Contractors Trustee,​ ​Metropolitan​ ​State​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Denver​ ​Board​ ​of​ ​Trustees Denver,​ ​Colorado JB​ ​Pritzker Co-founder​ ​and​ ​Managing​ ​Director The​ ​Pritzker​ ​Group David​ ​Hiller President​ ​and​ ​CEO Robert​ ​R.​ ​McCormick​ ​Foundation Deborah​ ​Quazzo President GSV​ ​Acceleration​ ​Fund Raul​ ​Raymundo CEO The​ ​Resurrection​ ​Project Sergio​ ​Suarez President​ ​and​ ​Co-Founder North​ ​American​ ​Institute​ ​for​ ​Mexican​ ​Advancement David​ ​Suarez, Vice​ ​President Los​ ​Comales​ ​Restaurants Jose​ ​Luis​ ​Prado President​ ​and​ ​CEO,​ ​Evans​ ​Food​ ​Group Quaker​ ​Foods​ ​North​ ​America​ ​former​ ​President​ ​and​ ​CEO

Tom​ ​Hurvis Founder​ ​and​ ​Chairman Old​ ​World​ ​Industries,​ ​LLC Nicki​ ​Anderson President​ ​and​ ​CEO Naperville​ ​Chamber​ ​of​ ​Commerce Pat​ ​Magoon President Lurie​ ​Children's​ ​Hospital Ellen​ ​Rudnick Polsky​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Entrepreneurship University​ ​of​ ​Chicago John​ ​Atkinson Managing​ ​Partner Willis​ ​Towers​ ​Watson Sarah​ ​Pang Executive​ ​Vice​ ​President CNA​ ​Financial Juan​ ​Ochoa President​ ​and​ ​CEO Miramar​ ​Group Alan​ ​W.​ ​Cramb President Illinois​ ​Institute​ ​of​ ​Technology Terry​ ​Howerton President​ ​and​ ​CEO Tech​ ​Nexus Mark​ ​Harris President​ ​and​ ​CEO Illinois​ ​Science​ ​and​ ​Technology​ ​Coalition Senator​ ​Billy​ ​Lawless,​ ​Irish​ ​Senate President​ ​and​ ​CEO The​ ​Gage,​ ​Dawson,​ ​Dearborn​ ​Restaurant​ ​Group

Juan​ ​Gaytan President​ ​and​ ​CEO Monterrey​ ​Security Anna​ ​Morzy Chairwoman Polish​ ​American​ ​Chamber​ ​of​ ​Commerce Clare​ ​Munana President​ ​and​ ​CEO Ancora​ ​Associates Jesse​ ​Ruiz Partner Drinker,​ ​Biddle​ ​&​ ​Reath​ ​LLP Marty​ ​Castro CEO Castro​ ​Synergies Karen​ ​Teitelbaum President​ ​and​ ​CEO Sinai​ ​Health Sam​ ​Toia President​ ​and​ ​CEO Illinois​ ​Restaurant​ ​Association Ed​ ​Wehmer President​ ​and​ ​CEO Wintrust​ ​Financial Craig​ ​Freedman President​ ​and​ ​CEO Freedman​ ​Seating​ ​Company Dora​ ​Sanchez Business​ ​Owner Neveria​ ​Michoacana Refugio​ ​Davila Business​ ​Owner Davila​ ​Auto​ ​Service

Melisa​ ​L.​ ​Bell General​ ​Manager Montale​ ​Gardens Bernabe​ ​Cabral Business​ ​Owner La​ ​Villita​ ​Cleaners Francisco​ ​Martinez Business​ ​Owner Isidros​ ​Tamales Jose​ ​Romero Business​ ​Owner Romero​ ​Steel Joan​ ​Franco Business​ ​Owner El​ ​Anzuelo​ ​Restaurant Marco​ ​Paz Business​ ​Owner Celias​ ​Photo​ ​Studio Hector​ ​E​ ​Gacia Business​ ​Owner G&G​ ​Imports​ ​LLC Jose​ ​Jimenez CEO Carnicerias​ ​Jimenez Ernesto​ ​Hernandez Business​ ​Owner El​ ​Campo Jesse​ ​Macias Business​ ​Owner Parks​ ​Homes​ ​Real​ ​Estate Jose​ ​Velazquez Business​ ​Owner Bryan's​ ​Jewelry

Luis​ ​Acosta Business​ ​Owner Yady's​ ​Carwash​ ​Inc Leo​ ​Torres Business​ ​Owner DJZ​ ​United​ ​Concrete​ ​&​ ​Asphalt​ ​Inc Jose​ ​L​ ​Suarez President Mar​ ​y​ ​Tierra​ ​Restaurant Laura​ ​Granado Business​ ​owner Laura's​ ​Boutique Benjamin​ ​Delgado Business​ ​Owner Benny's​ ​Mensware Ernesto​ ​Martinez President Ernesto​ ​Martinez​ ​Agency Carolina​ ​Cossyleon Business​ ​Owner Maravilla's​ ​Restaurant Veronica​ ​Trevino Business​ ​Owner Veronica's​ ​Maids Erica​ ​Vega Business​ ​Owner La​ ​Galera Victor​ ​Gonzalez Business​ ​Owner Quetzalcoat​ ​Studio Sergio​ ​Saurez​ ​Jr. Business​ ​Owner Martian​ ​Solutions

Apolinar​ ​Meza Business​ ​Owner Elmhurst​ ​Carpenter​ ​Realtor Jaime​ ​di​ ​Paulo Executive​ ​Director Little​ ​Village​ ​Chamber​ ​of​ ​Commerce Mario​ ​M.​ ​Carrera Chief​ ​Revenue​ ​Officer Entravision​ ​Communications​ ​Corporation Mike​ ​Englehart President​ ​and​ ​CEO Presence​ ​Health Scott​ ​Grams President​ ​and​ ​CEO Illinois​ ​Landscape​ ​and​ ​Contractors​ ​Association Supported​ ​by​ ​Immigrant​ ​Organizations: Alabama​ ​Coalition​ ​for​ ​Immigrant​ ​Justice Arkansas​ ​United​ ​Community​ ​Coalition CASA​ ​(MD,​ ​PA,​ ​VA,​ ​DC) Causa​ ​(OR) Center​ ​for​ ​Popular​ ​Democracy​ ​(CPD) Coalition​ ​for​ ​Humane​ ​Immigrant​ ​Rights​ ​of​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​(CHIRLA) Colorado​ ​Immigrant​ ​Rights​ ​Coalition​ ​(CIRC) Comunidades​ ​Unidas​ ​(UT) El​ ​Centro​ ​de​ ​Igualdad​ ​y​ ​Derechos​ ​(NM) Florida​ ​Immigrant​ ​Rights​ ​Coalition​ ​(FLIC) Global​ ​Cleveland​ ​(OH) Hispanic​ ​Interest​ ​Coalition​ ​of​ ​Alabama​ ​(HICA) Illinois​ ​Coalition​ ​for​ ​Immigrant​ ​and​ ​Refugee​ ​Rights​ ​(ICIRR) Junta​ ​for​ ​Progressive​ ​Action​ ​(CT) Latin​ ​American​ ​Coalition​ ​(NC) Maine​ ​People’s​ ​Alliance Make​ ​the​ ​Road​ ​(NY,​ ​NJ,​ ​PA) Massachusetts​ ​Immigrant​ ​and​ ​Refugee​ ​Advocacy​ ​Coalition​ ​(MIRA)​ ​(NH,​ ​MA) Michigan​ ​United National​ ​Korean​ ​American​ ​Service​ ​&​ ​Education​ ​Consortium​ ​(NAKASEC) Nebraska​ ​Appleseed New​ ​York​ ​Immigration​ ​Coalition OneAmerica​ ​(WA) Pennsylvania​ ​Immigration​ ​and​ ​Citizenship​ ​Coalition

Progressive​ ​Leadership​ ​Alliance​ ​of​ ​Nevada Promise​ ​Arizona Somos​ ​Un​ ​Pueblo​ ​Unido​ ​(NM) Tennessee​ ​Immigrant​ ​and​ ​Refugee​ ​Rights​ ​Coalition​ ​(TIRRC) Texas​ ​Organizing​ ​Project The​ ​Resurrection​ ​Project​ ​(IL) Voces​ ​de​ ​la​ ​Frontera​ ​(WI) Consejo​ ​de​ ​Federaciones​ ​Mexicianas​ ​(COFEM)​ ​(CA) Services,​ ​Immigrant​ ​Rights,​ ​and​ ​Education​ ​Network​ ​(SIREN)​ ​(CA) Sunflower​ ​Community​ ​Action​ ​(KS) Colorado​ ​People’s​ ​Alliance​ ​(COPA) Georgia​ ​Latino​ ​Alliance​ ​for​ ​Human​ ​Rights​ ​(GLAHR) Idaho​ ​Community​ ​Action​ ​Network​ ​(ICAN) Iowa​ ​Citizens​ ​for​ ​Community​ ​Improvement​ ​(ICCI) Montana​ ​Organizing​ ​Project​ ​(MOP) New​ ​Hampshire​ ​Alliance​ ​for​ ​Immigrant​ ​Rights​ ​(NHAIR-MIRA) El​ ​Centro​ ​de​ ​Igualdad​ ​y​ ​Derechos Pineros​ ​y​ ​Campesinos​ ​Unidos​ ​del​ ​Noroeste​ ​(PCUN)​ ​(OR) Workers​ ​Defense​ ​Project​ ​(TX) Washington​ ​CAN! People’s​ ​Action Center​ ​for​ ​Community​ ​Change