The City of Atlanta announced that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has joined a national coalition of forty U.S. cities and counties, along with the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, to file an amicus brief seeking to prevent the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Those governments joining the coalition include Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. This litigation is significant to the coalition because 51.4 percent of all currently active DACA recipients—more than 350,000 individuals—live in the metropolitan areas of the forty cities and counties.

Together, they are urging the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold an existing nationwide injunction against the Department of Homeland Security that is currently preventing DHS from terminating the DACA program. A copy of the brief is attached.

“Six years ago, President Obama took action to create a pathway for law-abiding immigrant youth to avoid deportation and have a shot at achieving the American Dream,” said Mayor Bottoms. “While administrations may change, the City of Atlanta’s values have not. Instead of tearing families apart and using young people as bargaining chips, governments should work together to protect hardworking youth who make our economies and communities stronger, and make meaningful strides in creating a sensible immigration system.”

Metro Atlanta boasts 15,700 DACA recipients, ranking as the 8th largest metro area for approvals in the United States. Seventy percent of 47,000 potential Georgia DACA applicants live in Metro Atlanta. A recent study showed the loss of DACA workers would adversely impact Georgia’s economy, approximately a $994,182,808 loss in state GDP.

The amicus brief states that local jurisdictions will suffer direct economic harm if DACA is rescinded due to the removal of hundreds of thousands of workers, business owners and taxpayers from their respective economies. The brief also states that ending DACA will make communities less safe and would lead to DACA recipients being much less likely to report criminal activity to law enforcement out of fear of deportation.   

In 2014, the City of Atlanta established the Welcoming Atlanta initiative. Welcoming Atlanta builds upon Atlanta’s proud tradition of inclusion and welcoming by ensuring immigrant and refugee neighbors are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of our communities.  The initiative brings together city government and community leaders to support new Atlantans to help ensure the City remains a global leader in the 21st century. Welcoming Atlanta aims to foster a connected community where all Atlantans can fully participate in civic life, contribute their talents to grow the city’s economy and work together with those entrusted to protect public safety - making Atlanta a safe and friendly place to live and do business.