This country has a history of being unkind to Mexicans. It’s an ugly truth, but a truth nonetheless. During the Great Depression, thousands of Mexicans were scapegoated and blamed for the lack of valuable jobs and deported because of it. Many were American-born citizens, some who had never even been to Mexico.

The mistreatment of farm workers pushed Cesar Chavez to create the National Farm Workers Association. Although a union was created and awareness was brought to the issue, the exploitation of farm workers happens to this day. Vulnerable people work long hours for little pay under the threat of being persecuted for their immigration status.

Anti-immigrant status is nothing new in this country, and neither is anti-Mexican sentiment. It’s what Donald Trump based his campaign on; it’s what won him the presidency. One of Trump’s main focuses right now is repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act, alternatively known as the DREAM Act. This offers immigrants who were brought over as children a permit to work and attend school. It is not a free ride — it costs money and DREAMers have to pay taxes, just as any other person living here. What the DREAM Act offers is an opportunity to make a better life in America. While DACA covers immigrants from many countries, Mexican immigrants are often targeted when discussing reasons to repeal DACA, calling back to Trump’s infamous speech where he called Mexicans “rapists and criminals.”

Trump wants to take this protection away, and we can’t let that happen. A simple text to 50409 will send a letter to your representative, asking them to defend DACA. America was built on immigrants, and we don’t get to close the doors because of xenophobia. The Statue of Liberty reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

As Americans, as the descendants of immigrants, we must protect those most vulnerable during this time. We must #DefendDACA.