Ohio leader budish urges support for president obama’s “deferred action for childhood arrivals”

COLUMBUS- Today Ohio House Democratic Leader Armond Budish (D- Beachwood) released a statement supporting President Obama’s “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) directive which   directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to practice prosecutorial discretion towards some individuals who immigrated illegally to the United States as children.

Currently, 31 states adhere to DACA and allow undocumented individuals to obtain their driver’s license under President Obama’s Executive Order and Ohio was one of the states the press release says.

However, according to Budish’s office, many undocumented who qualify for DACA are being denied a driver’s license. In addition, two weeks ago the Bureau of Motor Vehicles stopped issuing drivers licenses and threatened to revoke the nearly 200 that have been issued.

“Many of these young adults came to the United States as children. They have attended school here and have become productive members of our communities. As they work to become legal immigrants, we should help them continue to contribute to society, not penalize them,” said Budish.  “I urge Governor Kasich, Attorney General DeWine and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to help these individuals and allow them to obtain a drives licenses, as is done in 30 other states.”

DACA neither confers citizenship nor permanent-resident status; rather, it is a promise from the government not to deport an immigrant for two years. There is an application cost of $465, and acceptance may be renewed every two years.  Successful applicants will receive a Social Security number and are eligible to work legally.  Their wages will be taxed, but because they are not citizens, they cannot receive the benefits that their taxes help to finance.

This announcement comes on the heels of the Ohio Hispanic/Latino Legislative Day where hundreds of Latinos from all corners of Ohio supplanted on the state’s capitol building to voice their concerns.  During the legislative day Latinos met with their elected official and elected officials spoke to the crowd, echoing the importance of the Latino community in Ohio.