Google is calling for immigration reform during the Biden era ahead of a court ruling this week that could put the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program at risk.
Google's Kent Walker in a blog post said Google is committing to donate $250,000 to cover the DACA applications of over 500 "Dreamers," or young undocumented immigrants, ahead of the court decision, but acknowledged it's a "temporary fix."
"We need legislation that not only protects Dreamers, but also delivers other much-needed reforms," Walker wrote. "We will support efforts by the new Congress and incoming Administration to pass comprehensive immigration reform that improves employment-based visa programs that enhance American competitiveness, gives greater assurance to immigrant workers and employers, and promotes better and more humane immigration processing and border security practices."
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to make immigration reform a top priority for his administration, and Google is seeking to carve out a space as a leader in those efforts.
A federal judge in Texas could soon decide to halt DACA, leaving Dreamers in limbo again.