The Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program, created by President Barack Obama's immigration executive action in November 2014, could provide more than 20,000 new jobs per year for the next decade.

According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), the DAPA deferred action program could result in a GDP increase of $164 billion over the next 10 years for the U.S. DAPA would also provide an $88 billion increase in incomes for all Americans in addition to 20,538 new jobs by 2025.

CAP's estimates are based on data from the Migration Policy Institute and a population of 2.7 million workers. The Migration Policy Institute noted that 72 percent of the undocumented immigration population will participate in the labor force this year, and 3.7 million immigrants are eligible for the DAPA program. Of the 3.7 million DAPA-eligible immigrants, the cumulative payroll tax gains during the next five years will be $16.7 billion.

The DAPA program could also have an effect on the electoral process. In 2016, Latinos will represent 13 percent of the voting eligible population. With approximately 69,000 Latinos turning 18 years old every month, four million Latinos will become new voters since 2012.

"Of the new Latino voters, nearly 2 million are the children of immigrants. That means that at least 2 million people who personally understand the challenges and fears of having an immigrant parent will become part of the electorate in 2016," wrote CAP's Immigration Policy Associate Director Lizet Ocampo.

"The intimate understanding of the immigrant experience is felt broadly in the Latino and immigrant communities: 16.6 million people have a family member who is undocumented, and nearly 60 percent of Latino registered voters of all ages said they knew family, friends, co-workers or others who were undocumented," continued Ocampo.

The CAP immigration policy associate director stated DAPA provides "tremendous" benefits to all American communities through "substantial fiscal and economic contributions" but only if the deferred action program is implemented.

"Those opposing implementation should consider the economic benefits, as well as voters' support of DAPA. In particular, presidential candidates in the 2016 election should clearly articulate their positions regarding the executive branch's authority and, should they win, their decision whether to implement DAPA," added Ocampo.

As Latin Post reported, DAPA would have allowed undocumented immigrant parents to request temporary deferred action from deportation and obtain employment authorization if the individuals lived in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010, and is a parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident born on or before Nov. 20, 2014 -- the same day as Obama's immigration executive action address. The third criterion for the undocumented immigrant parent to receive deferred action is to pass a criminal background check and not be an enforcement priority for deportation from the U.S. prior to Nov. 20.

The program was set for implementation by May 19, but Texas Judge Andrew Hanen issued a temporary injunction in February on behalf of a coalition of U.S. states seeking to block Obama's deferred actions programs. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and its Attorney General Ken Paxton have led the coalition that includes 25 other states. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and a decision is pending.

__

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