The decision of some could uproot the lives of thousands. President Donald Trump has made the decision to discontinue the Deferred Actions of Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA. This program allows certain immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two- year work permit and exemption from deportation.
Trump is wrongly taking away rights from immigrants who only wish to live in a country which is based on freedom. People commonly refer to the DACA recipients as ‘dreamers,’ which they are. Parents brought their sons and daughters over the border to give them a life of greatness and to allow their children to have a strong education with the opportunities that could follow.
DACA is not a program that is taken lightly by those who pursue the chance to gain benefits following approval. For these immigrants to produce a benefit-earning application, they must reach requirements such as but not limited to being under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, having come to the states before they were 16-years-old, paying a $465 application fee, and understanding the risks of illegally residing in the states. They risk removal proceedings if they do not qualify when they apply.
Since Trump made the claim during his election campaign he would send immigrants back over the border, he has recently been acknowledged making statements to CNN such as “DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it is one of the most difficult subjects…” If the topic is such a confusion, why must the program be processed out while it is improving the lives of many “Dreamers” throughout the nation?
According to the Center for American Progress, out of the 787,580 plus immigrants who have been approved since the year 2012, DACA is found to be showing significant improvement in their lives. 69 percent has been employed with better pay, 89 percent have received a driver’s license or state ID and 40 percent have parents eligible for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents or DAPA.
Recipients are not expecting to gain these abilities without helping the country as a whole. Once deemed a DACA benefit-holder they pay income taxes, which allows the country to build a stronger economy, armed force, police force and court system.
This program is allowing youth and adults to lead lives that they would have only imagined, so why would we as a nation take these benefits away?
We thrive on being a country based on freedom, yet we have thousands who live in the same subdivisions, go to same schools and attend the same churches living in fear and struggle of losing their American dream.
