Everyone in America with access to the internet or a tv is aware of the recent events that transpired last week regarding Trumps infamous DACA decision. For hundreds of thousands across the nation, this news was a devastating blow, uprooting their lives. Yet for the majority of us not affected by this, we're left questioning what exactly is DACA, and why is this decision important?
DACA is a program introduced by the Obama Administration in 2012 designed to allow individuals who were brought to the US as a child a chance to work or pursue an education legally in the US, seeing as laws make it almost impossible for individuals residing illegally in the US to seek citizenship. Those who came over as children had no say in becoming an illegal immigrant, yet by residing here illegally, children or not, becoming a citizen and receiving the associate rights was still a near impossible feat, hence the creation of DACA. This was meant to give the DREAMers a chance at a better future.
However, these benefits received by DACA recipients were not easy to acquire, nor did being a recipient give you a free pass. Recipients of DACA contributed equally to our economy as the rest of us, paying taxes, paying into welfare, despite being unable to actually apply for welfare or receive its benefits, many joined the military and protected our country. They brought in nearly 10 billion each year in amount taxes paid. Not only that, but they also must keep clean criminal records to continue receiving benefits. They contribute to and improve society with their presence, and deserve to be protected.
On Monday September 5th, President Trump announced that DACA would no longer be accepting new recipients and all members currently receiving benefits would lose their benefits and legal stays as of March 2018. This caused a panic for the 800,000 current DACA recipients, as many are now about to being kicked out of school, lose their jobs, and be sent back to a country with which they haven't lived in since a child. The effects of this can be seen across the nation, including in our home state of Wisconsin. A close friend and fellow student of mine that is of Mexican ethnicity has received news of many of his former classmates and friends being kicked out of their universities and being asked to return to Mexico, a country many of them haven't been two since they were infants.In his words "Some of these people I know being affected are more American than I am, they've been here since they were two, and are being forced to return to a country that they've never considered their home." He himself narrowly escaped the fate he now is seeing his friends and family faced with, as he was lucky enough to be born two months after his mother moved to the US. "It's just crazy to think, it could've very easily been me, you know?"
If the repeal goes through, it could cost the US around 460 billion annually, having detrimental effects on the American economy. While we can hope federal courts will suspend Trumps decision and postpone the termination, in the mean time, there are hundreds of thousands of students and workers nationwide whose lives are likely to be forever changed by this momentous decision.
