A new law in Wisconsin is set to enhance employment opportunities for individuals who arrived in the United States illegally as children. This legislation aims to empower thousands of Wisconsinites currently protected from deportation under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Historically, state laws in Wisconsin have restricted these individuals from obtaining licenses necessary for various professions, including nursing and plumbing. However, this all changed with the recent passage of a bipartisan bill signed into law by Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
During the bill signing ceremony in Milwaukee, Governor Evers highlighted the importance of immigrants in local communities. “When we think about our neighbors, we must also think about immigrants who are an integral part of our communities, some of whom have only ever known one home,” he stated, emphasizing Wisconsin as that home.
Support from Bipartisan Leaders
Former Republican Representative John Macko, who initially proposed a similar bill that failed to advance, expressed his enthusiasm for the new legislation aimed at addressing labor shortages in the state. “This is a jobs bill, plain and simple, not an immigration bill,” Macko remarked during legislative discussions, clarifying that immigration policy is a separate matter for Congress.
The proposal garnered support not just from labor unions but also from industry groups like Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. The Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature passed the bill by voice vote in February, and it ultimately received approval from the Senate, with only two dissenting votes from Senators Andre Jacques and Steve Nass.
Defining DACA Eligibility
Established by the Obama administration in 2012, the DACA program allows certain undocumented immigrants who arrived as children to obtain protection from deportation. Wisconsin’s new law specifies that state licensure benefits will only apply to individuals who were part of DACA under the original 2012 program, thereby excluding those who achieved DACA status after the law took effect.
According to the bill’s author, Representative Joel Kitchens, this targeted approach means the law applies to “a finite group” of individuals who enrolled prior to the program’s inception. Federal law generally bars noncitizens, including DACA recipients, from receiving state or local public benefits, which encompasses professional licenses. However, state authorities can grant exceptions, a practice Wisconsin has now adopted.
The newly enacted law is limited to active DACA recipients who possess federal work authorization. Participants must reapply every two years, which includes submitting biometric data and undergoing criminal background checks, ensuring a “highly vetted” population, as noted by Kitchens in his legislative testimony.
Kitchens reassured that the legislation does not promote illegal immigration. “These are people who came here of their own free will,” he stated. As of September 2025, there are approximately 500,000 active DACA participants nationwide, with over 5,000 in Wisconsin, as reported by the Migration Policy Institute.
Kitchens further argued that many of these individuals possess valuable skills that could benefit Wisconsin’s economy. “We’re essentially paying these people for a 12th-grade education, while telling them they have to go to Illinois or Minnesota to join the workforce,” he lamented during discussions. “I’m sure they’ll become Bears fans.” This sentiment underscores the urgency of keeping skilled workers within the state to boost economic growth.
