Immigrants are substantial contributors to Southwestern Pennsylvania’s success and are crucial to our ability to respond and rebuild from the pandemic. Today, over 70,000 undocumented immigrants, including 1,700 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, work in essential roles across the state. Even as undocumented immigrants contribute heavily to our economy and workforce, their status is riddled with uncertainty.
The region has continued to lose population each year from out- migration, more deaths than births, declining fertility replacement rates and a decline in immigration. Benchmark regions have gained population and, in many cases, surpassed Pittsburgh. Attracting and retaining foreign-born talent and college graduates is crucial for building our economy and addressing our workforce shortages and our ability to compete for the investment we need to reach our goal of a globally competitive, inclusive region. Without DACA, our state could lose $323 million annually in GDP and $204 million in annual state and local taxes.
Thankfully, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act last week, creating a pathway to citizenship for the DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals who strengthen our communities and economy. This bill won’t just help the immigrant community but all Pennsylvanians. The DACA program allows those who came to the U.S. at a young age the ability to legally work and study.
I hope our leaders in the U.S. Senate, including Sen. Pat Toomey, follow suit to establish a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have only ever known Pennsylvania as home.
Matt Smith
Downtown
The writer is president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.