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The state’s top business groups are backing a suit aimed at preserving the federal program, known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allows undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children to avoid deportation.The New Jersey Business & Industry Association, NJ Chamber of Commerce, Audible, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Montclair State University, Prudential Financial, Sanofi U.S. Services and Verizon Communications announced Wednesday they signed have onto an amicus brief to try and keep the DACA program in place.

“Ending the DACA program would cause great harm for New Jersey companies and our economy,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. “There are 22,000 New Jersey residents who are at risk of no longer being eligible to obtain work authorization.”

DACA began in 2012, unveiled by then-U.S. President Barack Obama, and it allows childhood arrivals to apply for two-year deferrals on their deportation. Approximately 690,000 United States residents, dubbed “Dreamers” use the program.

The program has been controversial from its beginning, and a variety of state and federal lawsuits have sought to strike down, limit or weaken the law, including efforts by the Trump Administration.

Wednesday’s announcement came in response to a suit filed by Texas in federal court to strike down the program.

“In New Jersey alone, enjoining DACA would force tens of thousands of taxpaying employees out of the workforce, and would result in an estimated decrease of $1.6 billion in New Jersey’s GDP each year,” reads the amicus brief, filed on July 20 by the Roseland-based Lowenstein Sandler law firm.

Craig Silliman, executive president for public policy and general counsel at Verizon, said the telecommunications giant has benefited greatly from the employment of Dreamers in its workforce.

“At a time when we are fighting to ensure that the US economy remains strong on the global stage, it is vital that we not lose the advantage of the Dreamers with their energy, diverse experience and backgrounds,” Silliman said.