The Coalition for the American Dream is a network of major businesses that lobbies for legislation to provide a naturalization process for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). ¹ It consists of over 140 members including, Amazon, Google, Facebook (now Meta), Microsoft, and PayPal. ^{2 3}

Coalition for the American Dream opposes immigration legislation that does not provide a complete naturalization process for DACA recipients. In 2018, it announced opposition to the Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (H.R. 4760) due to it offering a three-year, renewable visa for recipients as opposed to citizenship. ⁴

Background

In October 2017, Coalition for the American Dream was founded as a nonprofit advocacy organization in response to the Trump administration rescinding DACA. It consists of a coalition of businesses that advocate for “immediate” and “permanent” legislation that would allow individuals covered by DACA to have the ability to maintain their residency and pursue citizenship. ^{1 3}

Coalition for the American Dream has filed amicus briefs and writes letters to elected officials expressing support from its member businesses for DACA to be reinstated and for other forms of naturalization for migrants who were formerly protected by DACA. It argues that deporting the individuals covered by DACA will result in a loss of economic growth, tax revenue, and members of the workforce. ³

Letters

In November 2017, Coalition for the American Dream published a letter written to then-Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in response to the rescission of DACA. The letter requested that Congress pass legislation that would protect the residency of the individuals previously protected by DACA. The letter was endorsed by over 80 prominent businesses, including Amazon, Google, Facebook (now Meta), Microsoft, and PayPal. ²

In February 2018, Coalition for the American Dream published a letter to Congressional leaders expressing opposition to the Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (H.R. 4760). The bill proposed to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase funding for border security, authorize the deportation of illegal immigrants or other immigrants that have committed crimes, and authorize a three-year, renewable visa for DACA recipients. ⁴ The letter stated opposition to the bill specifically because it did not provide permanent legal residency for DACA recipients. ⁵

In July 2020, Coalition for the American Dream published a letter to President Donald Trump that requested him to not rescind DACA due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter argued that due to the pandemic, removing legal status would not only disrupt the economy, but it would also “jeopardize” the healthcare system because a portion of DACA recipients are health care workers. ⁶

Advocacy

Coalition for the American Dream has an employer guide for businesses to use to support their employees who are or previously were DACA recipients. It instructs employers to contact members of Congress or White House officials, preferably using known contacts, and to advocate for policies that would provide a naturalization process for DACA recipients. It also advocates for businesses to engage in press and social media campaigns in support of providing DACA recipients a naturalization process. ⁷

Financials

In 2022, Coalition for the American Dream reported $310,000 in total revenue and $289,348 in total expenses. ⁸ Out of its expenses, $280,210 was paid to the lobbying firm Fierce Government Relations where executive director of the coalition Alex Jarvis is employed. ^{9 10}

People

Aleix Jarvis is the executive director of Coalition for the American Dream and has worked as a lobbyist for Fierce Government Relations since 2005. Prior to lobbying, Jarvis was legislative director and chief policy advisor for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). He also worked for the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign in Florida and worked as director of operations for the 2008 Republican National Convention. ¹¹

1. “Join Us Today.” Politico, October 2017. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CoalitionForTheAmericanDream_POLITICO.pdf.
2. Coalition for the American Dream. Letter to Speaker Ryan, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, and Leader Pelosi. Coalition for the American Dream, November 16, 2017. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Coalition-for-the-American-Dream-Letter.pdf.
3. “Coalition for the American Dream.” Coalition for the American Dream. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/.
4. “Securing America’s Future (SAF) Act Bill Section by Section Analysis.” National Immigration Forum, July 24, 2018. https://immigrationforum.org/article/incomprehensive-immigration-reform-securing-americas-future-saf-act-bill-summary/.
5. Coalition for the American Dream. Letter to Speaker Ryan, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, and Leader Pelosi. Coalition for the American Dream, February 8, 2018. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Goodlatte-Bill-Letter.pdf
6. Coalition for the American Dream. Letter to President Donald J. Trump. Coalition for the American Dream, July 11, 2020. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/C4AD-Letter-July-2020_721Update.pdf.
7. “Supporting DACA Team Members: A Guide for Employers.” Coalition for the American Dream. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.coalitionfortheamericandream.us/supporting-daca-team-members/#.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Coalition for the American Dream Inc. 2022. Part I, Lines 12, 18.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Coalition for the American Dream Inc. 2022. Part IX, Line 11d.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Coalition for the American Dream Inc. 2022. Schedule O.
11. “Our Team.” FierceGR. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.fiercegr.com/our-team/.