Association’s CEO praises Supreme Court ruling to uphold DACA policy

The court voted 5 to 4 to uphold the policy. The ruling will keep the DACA program intact for now, but would not prevent the Trump administration from trying to overturn it in the future.

The National Restaurant Association praised today’s Supreme Court decision to uphold the Obama administration’s Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The decision in Department of Homeland Security, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al., would allow young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to continue to renew their work permits under the Deferred Access for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and also protect them from deportation. DACA recipients also are known as “DREAMers.”

The court voted 5 to 4 to uphold the policy. Chief Justice John Roberts cast the deciding vote. The ruling will keep the DACA program intact for now, but would not prevent the Trump administration from trying to overturn it in the future.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is the validation of the American dream for thousands of restaurant owners and workers,” said Tom Bené, the Association’s President & CEO. “Young people, including DREAMers, have always been central to our industry’s growth and success. As the industry looks forward to the long road of recovery from the impacts of the ongoing pandemic, we know that foreign-born industry employees and leaders will play an important role in our rebuilding.”

The restaurant industry has provided many opportunities to foreign-born entrepreneurs, who, through hard work and perseverance, have achieved great business success. According to Association research, more than 40% of restaurant chefs and nearly a quarter of restaurant managers are foreign-born.

“Their hard work and dedication have enhanced the flavors and variety of the restaurant industry across this nation,” he said.

Bené added that the restaurant industry, the country’s second-largest private sector employer, would continue to support common-sense immigration reforms that allow it to provide opportunity and advancement to a growing legal workforce.

“The Supreme Court has spoken, and it is time for Congress to act to find a permanent bipartisan solution for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants who are already adding value to our communities and the economy,” he said.