Dreamers Movement and DACA

America land of opportunity where dreams come true. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) also known as the Dream Act, was created on June 15, 2012, by then-President Barack Obama. The program has then helped over 700,000 dreamers that were brought to the US as children. The Dream act gives exemption from deportation for a two-year period, while also giving them a two-year work permit. The requirements for applying to DACA are simple applicants must be at least 15 years old and under 31 years old. They must also have lived in the United States since June 15, 2007, with no criminal record. In September 2017, President Trump put an end to the program leaving many dreamers on a limbo. Dreamers are now facing many struggles mental health and the fear of having their families deported. The best solution for the dreamers is for Congress to enact a new law that would help dreamers become citizens of the United States Of America and give them work permits while their legal case is in process.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) has provided temporary relief to dreamers around the United States since the act was passed on December 8, 2010. The program has been through several changes in its policy. On multiple occasions, President Trump has mentioned making a halt on the program but was unable un 2017. In the article “What DACA Recipients Stand to Lose-and What States Can Do About It”, Silva Mathema emphasizes that “...Trump administration announced an end to DACA in September 2017 and started a clock on its phase-out”(Mathema) President Trump also specified that no new applications would be accepted and there would be a wind-down for current DACA enrollees.

When Trump and his administration ended DACA they specified that if the recipients permit would expire before March 5, 2018, they would be able to renew their permit for two more years. Only if the application was received by October 5, 2017. For example, DACA recipients whose status is set to expire in the following 12 months will need to considered renewing. In the article “Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” indicates “USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA.” ( USCIS) For those who have not applied for DACA it is too late, as the program has ended. Many dreamers now live in fear of being deported.

Another problem for immigrants is mental health, may live in fear of being separated from their families. For lots of Dreamers, there's more at stake than just College or a job they fear for their families being deported. Dreamers struggle with the fact that their families can be can be deported at any time and they may never see them again. In the article “How DACA Affects the Health of America's Children”, it states “Mental illness at such an early age can set the child on a path for a lifetime of challenges, from low education to dependence on welfare to poor physical health and substance abuse—personal struggles with high social costs”(How) Many children live in fear of going to school and never seeing their families again. They too also risk of being deported back to their countries to which many don’t even remember.

The best solution for this problem would be to enact a new law. The new act would protect dreamers from deportation, provide working permits, higher education, service in the armed forces, and also help with legal status. The requirements for applying for the new program would be similar to the old Dream act. First, Dreamers would have to be between the ages of 15-30, have no criminal record, and have been in the United States since 2000. Congress would have to agree and implement the new law. For Congress to be able to implement the new law the people would have to vote for candidates that support the Dream Act, but lots of people would oppose the idea

Of course, there would be lots of setbacks from the people, as they are afraid if they vote they would be allowing rapist, thieves, and murders become citizens. They also believe that dreamers will steal their jobs. Many people also believe that America is only for Americans and that immigrants seeking refuge shouldn’t be allowed in. In the article “Thank Trump if he Finally Ends the Unconstitutional DACA Program,” Hans von Spakovsky stresses that “...we have the right to decide who comes to the U.S.” (Spakovsky). But a reminder to Americans that they too at one point of there lineage, they too were immigrants that sought refuge from the persecution of religion. Another point for the new act would be that not only dreamers would benefit they too would.

If this solution would be to implement the United States economy would grow and there would be more jobs openings. In the article “8 DACA Statistics That Show How, Vital Dreamers Are To American Society” as stated by Mehreen Kasana “...employment has a positive impact on the American economy by increasing business creation and allowing Dreamers to open their own enterprises, creating more job opportunities.” (Kasana). This solution would be the best as it not only benefits dreamers it also benefits the United States economy.

At the age of five, I was brought to the United States along with my two sisters by my parents who wanted a better life for me. My mom never finished middle schools as her parents didn’t have enough money to send them to school. My dad was fortunate and had a family that could send him to school. After my parents got married my dad decided to work in the United States to be able to feed us and send us to school. Every six months my dad would go back to Mexico to visit us. Soon after I turned five my parents decided that it would be best if we moved to the United States as it was a lot safer for my family that was also starving. When we arrived here we were treated as if we were criminals when all we wanted was to survive and live the famous American dream, but it was not very easy. My family wasn’t able to go out as much, because we were afraid of being deported or worse separated. Every day we lived in fear and looking over our backs.

Finally, in 2012 my family seemed to catch a break, well my older sister did. My sister’s application was accepted for DACA, now it was only time before I could send my application in. During the time that I waited for my health slowly begin to deteriorate, I was afraid that the program would end or that I wouldn't be accepted. My dream to become an ER surgeon slowly started to fade, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to legally to receive my Licensure & Certification. But finally came the day that turned 15, the following week we submitted my applications and was accepted. As soon as I was accepted I enrolled to JTED to become a medical assistant. In 2017, my dreams shattered when it was announced that DACA would be ending. A couple months later it was stated that I could renew my permit for two more years.

In conclusion, one of the worst decisions President Trump has done during his presidency was to end the act. So far the best solution for dreamers is for a new law to be enacted that will protect their rights just as before and better. The program will help dreamers with their legal status while giving them permits for work. The program has helped thousands of immigrants that where brought to the United State when they were kids. They deserve a chance at what the American Dream can be.

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