For many Americans, last Thursday marked a big decision in their lives. Trump made his decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program was created by President Obama, allowing undocumented young immigrants an opportunity to be employed and a renewable reprieve from being deported. DACA was an opportunity at life for immigrants who were brought here as children and thus, are not “American citizens.”
It's damaging and extremely disheartening to hear people say that DACA recipients are not American citizens. They pay taxes, they work for their money and they make it happen! By allowing DACA recipients to stay, they have no losses. They just want the opportunity to stay with their family, get an education and work. So many people want to send DACA immigrants home but what they don't understand is that this is their home.
Many of them came to America so young, that they know nothing besides this. Their family is here, their life is here and to send them to a place that isn't even their actual “home” is sick. They may not be citizens on paper, but at heart, they are.The good thing is there is no formal action as of yet; President Trump is leaving DACA in Congress' hands and leaving them to deal with the formalities of it. The program completely begins to fade out on March 5, 2018, but if you currently are a part of DACA, you can still renew it. If your status expires before March of 2018, you can renew your permit and deportation protection by October 5th. The New York Times says, "There are approximately 200,000 people in this group, the last to benefit from the program, which will fully expire in 2020."
In a 2016 study originally done by Tom K. Wong from the University of California San Diego, we learn some statistics about DACA recipients. Like the fact that 95% of them are currently working or in school (many of which do both!). 12% of DACA recipients even bought their own homes. These stats alone prove that these are some of the hardest working people in America! They get through college on their own money because if you are not a citizen, you are not eligible for financial aid, loans or any aid from the government.
Knowing people who are a part of the DACA program personally, it hurts me to see them like this. To see people worried about the near future, something that just a few days ago, they were sure of. These are some of the most hardworking people I know and beyond that, some of the kindest. They are the people who never stop working; they continue on their way to make sure that they can pay for and continue getting an education. Anyone who says DACA recipients are anything but hardworking and goal-oriented have never met them and should have no say in their future. To know that even in a country where so many are working hard to get them out, they are standing their ground and working to keep America great.
We are supposed to be a nation of immigrants and aside from a small percentage, we all are immigrants, so we should support each other, not try to break others down. We all belong here and we all deserve an opportunity, who are you to take that away from others?
