Starbucks Pledges To Fight DACA Repeal, Support Dreamers

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would repeal the DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, program. DACA allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to live, work, and study in the U.S. legally, and ending the program puts hundreds of thousands of people at risk of deportation. Now Starbucks and several other major companies are speaking out against the repeal.

Starbucks issued a statement Wednesday, pledging its support for the DACA program and the DACA beneficiaries who now work for Starbucks.

"Starbucks will continue to stand with the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers impacted by yesterday's announcement, including those we are proud to call Starbucks partners," the company said. "These young people are in America through no fault of their own. They are contributing to their community and to the economy — this is their home."

Starbucks reimburses its employees for the fees required to stay in the DACA program. 84 Starbucks employees have taken advantage of that reimbursement, which means at least 84 Starbucks employees are Dreamers. Starbucks says the actual number of Dreamers in its employ is likely much higher.

Sixteen states on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to stop the repeal of DACA on the grounds that it is discriminatory and violates due process. Starbucks, Amazon, and Microsoft have all spoken out in support of the lawsuit, and in support of the DACA beneficiaries in their employ.

"We are also joining other companies to actively support legal action by the State of Washington and a coalition of employers to protect Dreamers from potential deportation," Starbucks said.

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