An Old West Lesson in Covid Times

     When I read about the threat of deportation faced by some medical workers fighting corona virus I thought about a visit I made to Bent’s Old Fort. This Nineteenth Century Colorado fort thrived as it welcomed the contributions of Mexicans, Native American, blacks, French, and whites. In contrast, about 29,000 skilled health care professionals could be forced out if the U.S. Supreme Court rules with the Trump Administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.     
     These “Dreamers,” as they are called, were brought to the U.S. from other countries as minors and haven’t been granted citizenship. They grew up and became trained professionals.     
     Their absence could have “devastating effects” on our health care system that already faces professional shortages, according to more than 30 organizations that filed a brief with the court.         
     The Trump Administration seeks to deport all 643,000 registered in the DACA program. This could be devastating in our reeling economy. In 2017, DACA individuals earned $23 billion in total household income and contributed $4 billion to taxes, according to New American Economy, a bipartisan group studying immigration reforms.     
     In a shared statement, more than 50 Chambers of Commerce said, “These immigrants are driving economic growth in our communities.” They quoted Cato Institute estimates that deporting DACA individuals would cost our economy $280 billion over the next decade.     
​     Perhaps we ought to pay attention to an Old West lesson from Fort Bent; it’s not only humanitarian to continue to welcome these Dreamers, it’s economically smart.