South Dakota business leaders and immigration advocates want government immigration programs to improve. A virtual roundtable offered conversation and information about the complex topic.
One federal program that gets attention is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – called DACA.
Karen Benitez-Lopez is a DACA recipient. She joined in on the discussion and explained some of the immigration procedure.
“I’ve come to find out that not everybody knows the process you have to go to. How any little thing you could do could jeopardize renewing your permit. So, we’re actually here contributing to the community. We’re not just going out and committing crimes or trying to live off you know the government ‘cause I know that’s been a big deal too.”
Benitez-Lopez says DACA recipients face challenges. They have trouble getting loans or preventing deportation.
Americans for Prosperity is a libertarian-conservative political advocacy group. Executive Director Don Haggar is calling on the federal government to resolve this problem.
“That’s what’s broken, it’s the system. The immigrants and dreamers are not the problem, it’s the government system.”
The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce sponsored this event. President and CEO David Owen led the discussion.