ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN & 15 ATTORNEYS GENERAL SUE TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF DREAMERS

Attorneys General Lawsuit Alleges Federal Government Violates Due Process Rights; Harms Residents, Institutions, and Economies; and Violates the Equal Protection Clause by Discriminating Against DREAMers of Mexican Origin

Press Release from the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Chicago, IL – Attorney General Lisa Madigan today joined with 15 attorneys general to file a lawsuit to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) grantees. Madigan and the coalition allege the federal government’s rescinding of the DACA program violates Due Process rights; violates the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution by discriminating against DREAMers of Mexican origin, who make up 78 percent of DACA recipients; and harms the states’ residents, institutions, and economies.

The lawsuit was filed earlier today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against President Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Click here to read the lawsuit.

Since DACA’s inception five years ago, nearly 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children have been granted DACA status after paying application fees, submitting to and passing background checks and applying for work permits.
Illinois has the third highest number of approved initial DACA applications, trailing only California and Texas. Since 2012, over 42,000 Illinoisans have been accepted to participate in the DACA program. Studies show that Illinois’ economy would suffer an approximate $2.3 billion loss with the elimination of the DACA program, including nearly $55 million in local and state tax revenue. In addition, one expert estimates that rescinding the program will cost Illinois $6.9 billion over the next decade.

“To deport DREAMers to countries foreign to them is fundamentally unfair, hurts our state economy and violates the law,” Madigan said. “These are Americans in every way but their birthright. For centuries, our country has benefitted from immigrants who came here and worked hard for a better life. Rescinding DACA is contrary to what makes our country prosper.”