A DAPA recipient's family could see an income increase of 10 percent if the deferred action program were officially implemented.

Report: DAPA Work Authorization Increases Income

According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), DAPA -- the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, which was announced by President Barack Obama in November 2014 -- would reduce poverty levels and increase income.

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau between 2009 and 2013, the MPI estimates 3.6 million undocumented immigrant parents, who have a U.S-born or lawful permanent resident child, would be eligible for DAPA, which would give eligible parents three-year renewable work permits and allow them to temporarily avoid deportation.

Without DAPA, MPI stats DAPA-eligible male immigrants earn nearly $10,000 less than lawful permanent residents, while undocumented women earn $8,000 less. As a result, DAPA families have an average annual income of $31,000 and endure a poverty rate of 36 percent, significantly higher than the 14 percent of poverty-level families of U.S.-born parents. The independent non-partisan and non-profit think tank reported that fathers are more at risk of deportation, and their deportation has significant negative effects on families, including $24,000 income lost for a family.

MPI states providing work authorization to eligible undocumented parents would have little impact on the U.S. labor force participation.

"When parents lack legal status, their children -- who are often U.S. citizens -- are harmed. A strong body of evidence demonstrates that parents' unauthorized status reduces the well-being and development of children due to increased family stress, fear of deportation, poor work conditions, lower income, inferior housing and reluctance to access community supports for children," said Heather Koball, co-author of the MPI report, titled "Deferred Action for Unauthorized Immigrant Parents: Analysis of DAPA's Potential Effects on Families and Children."

Fellow co-author Randy Capps, director of research for MPI's U.S. programs, said, "If the Supreme Court permits DAPA to go forward, the program has the potential to improve the incomes and living standards for many unauthorized immigrant families through protection from deportation and eligibility for work authorization."

DAPA in Legal Limbo

DAPA's fate currently rests with the U.S. Supreme Court. On Jan. 19, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case concerning the legality of DAPA and the expanded guidelines of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. The case made it to the Supreme Court after the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the Obama administration, requested the higher court hear the case following losses in the lower courts.

Texas has led the way in blocking DAPA and DACA's expansion. Launched by former Attorney General Greg Abbott, who now serves as governor for the Lone Star state, the lawsuit, under current Attorney General Ken Paxton, has advanced and gained support from several states. The group seeks to stop the federal government from enacting the programs, claiming Obama overreached his executive authority and citing financial impacts on states.

The suit scored victories from Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which provided a temporary injunction on the two deferred action programs and prevented the federal government from implementing the programs.

Texas has since received support from other Republican governors and attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Even with the Supreme Court now comprised of eight justices following the death of Antonin Scalia, the DAPA case will still have its day. However, if the justices are tied 4-4, then the lower court's decision -- to not implement the programs -- will remain in effect.

To download the report, click here.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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