Why did IBM's 31 DACA employees became a sudden priority worthy of a trip to DC for the CEO? Along with a stated goal to not raise H1-B salary minimums, the backing of H.R.392 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017 is a key issue according to IBM's lobbying goals in the U.S.:
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/policy/key-issues/
The act lifts per country green card caps. The H.R. 392 sponsor in the U.S. congress is Kevin Yoder from Kansas, who announced his intention to link this IBM backed legislaion with any potential DACA deal worked out by congress:
https://www.bna.com/kansas-congressman-tackles-n73014470455/
"Yoder hoped to get the bill attached to whatever deal Congress works out to provide legal status to immigrants in the deferred action for childhood arrivals program."
“There are some interesting parallels” between the DACA discussion and the per-country caps that H.R. 392 addresses, Yoder said.
https://twitter.com/repkevinyoder/status/884839460478889990
https://www.facebook.com/ImmigrationVoice/posts/1564372690295616:0