Startup Ecosystem Immigration Letter to Congress

August 10, 2021

Speaker Nancy Pelosi U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515

Leader Charles Schumer U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

Leader Kevin McCarthy U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515

Leader Mitch McConnell U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader Schumer, and Leader McConnell

As leading members of the U.S. startup ecosystem一incubators, accelerators, support organizations, and companies一responsible for significant job and economic growth, we write to you concerning the recent Fifth Circuit ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which finds the program unlawful. We form the fabric of the innovation ecosystem across the country, some of us immigrants ourselves, and we urge U.S. policymakers to swiftly enact a permanent solution for Dreamers. Without Dreamers—many of whom represent STEM talent on which startups rely or are founders themselves—the U.S. risks the dynamism and diversity central to our position as a leader in innovation.

Entrepreneurs have long recognized the importance of Dreamers. They make significant contributions to the U.S. economy, with reports estimating that a repeal of DACA would lead to a $460 billion loss in GDP over a decade. 1 They are business leaders, and launch new businesses at rates that outpace native-born Americans. 2 They are job creators一businesses launched by DACA recipients employ an estimated 86,000 workers across the country. 3 And Dreamers represent a significant portion of a much-needed talent pool in the U.S., serving critical roles in STEM fields including in healthcare and engineering. 4 Failing to ensure a permanent solution for those that have contributed so much to the innovation ecosystem is both wrong and bad economic policy.

It is imperative that Congress passes legislation providing legal certainty—including a pathway to citizenship—for Dreamers. Without subsequent legislative action, the ruling prevents thousands of individuals from emerging from the shadows, inhibiting their ability to legally work and contribute to the only country many Dreamers have ever known. And for those who still have DACA protections, the possibility of future legal efforts and no legislative solution in sight means their lives continue to be mired with uncertainty.

Innovation is central to the American experience, and Dreamers play a critical role in our diverse startup ecosystem. Policymakers must ensure that Dreamers have the safety and security they need so that the U.S. can continue to remain a leading hub for startup growth and innovation, embracing founders and talent that have spent most of their lives calling the U.S. home.

Sincerely,

1859 Ventures

76 Forward (f.k.a. 1776)

A Kids Book About Inc ACME

AtronOmatic LLC

Alloy

AlphaHill

Arkatecht

Authentise Inc

Baru Inc.

bluesalve partners

Boundless Immigration

Brave Founders

Cofounders Capital

Contextly

Craig Newmark Philanthropies

CrowdCheck, Inc.

Crowdfundingroadmap Inc

Digital4Startups Inc.

Empathy Rocks, Inc.

Engine

Envelope

Felt, Inc.

Fiskkit

Futureproof

Goalden Hour

HumanKind Homes

IncentiLock LLC

INCOMPAS

Indiegogo, Inc.

Karma+

Latinx Startup Alliance

Libib

Lithic Technology LLC

Little Sous, Inc.

Loop & Tie Lovely

M1PR, Inc.

Make Startups

MENTOR$CHIP, INC

Mercury Fund

Neighborland

Nombolo

OfficeNinjas

Onfleet, Inc.

OpenGrants

OPT Industries

PIE PIONEERS 21

Productions.com

Puppet, Inc

Radious, Inc.

Reco

Reddit

Routegy

Rubitection

SAIL

SEED SPOT

ShareProgress

Sort-E

Southern Cross Venture Partners

Sparklehorse Media LLC

TechUnited:NJ

The Coworking Center

Tono Latino

Unshackled Ventures

Upgraded Technologies Inc

Vertex Ventures

Via

Voqal

Wonderfil

Work Bigger

ZibaHub

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1 FWD.us, The Impact of DACA Program Repeal on AmericanJobs, https://www.fwd.us/news/daca-impact-report/.

2 Tim K. Wong, et al, DACA Recipients’ Livelihoods, Families, and Sense of Security Are at Stake ThisNovember (Sept. 19, 2019), https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2019/09/19/474636/daca-recipients-livelihoods-families -sense-security-stake-november/; New American Economy, DACA-Eligible Entrepreneurs Earned More Than $658.7 Million in Total Business Income in 2015 (Jan. 31, 2018), https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/press-release/daca-eligible-entrepreneurs-earned-more-than-658-7-million-in-to tal-business-income-in-2015/.

3 Claudia Flores and Nicole Prchal Svajlenka, Why DACA Matters (April 29, 2021), https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2021/04/29/498944/why-daca-matters/.

4 TheDream.us, America’s DREAMers: What You Need to Know About this Growing Diverse Talent Pool (June 2020), https://www.thedream.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/TheDream.US-Career-Connections-Employer-Fact-Sheet-Jun e-2020.pdf. 3 Claudia Flores and Nicole Prchal Svajlenka, Why DACA Matters (April 29, 2021), https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2021/04/29/498944/why-daca-matters/. 2 Tim K. Wong, et al, DACA Recipients’ Livelihoods, Families, and Sense of Security Are at Stake ThisNovember (Sept. 19, 2019), https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2019/09/19/474636/daca-recipients-livelihoods-families -sense-security-stake-november/; New American Economy, DACA-Eligible Entrepreneurs Earned More Than $658.7 Million in Total Business Income in 2015 (Jan. 31, 2018), https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/press-release/daca-eligible-entrepreneurs-earned-more-than-658-7-million-in-to tal-business-income-in-2015/. 1 FWD.us, The Impact of DACA Program Repeal on AmericanJobs, https://www.fwd.us/news/daca-impact-report/.