I am a Dreamer.
Four years ago, Barack Obama passed an executive order for young children who arrived before the age of 16 who had been brought here as children at no fault of their own, named DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). I am one of those kids.
I was brought here at the age of 2 before I could even speak because my parents thought that this country had more to offer than ours. Because, here, they had the ability to provide for my sister and me.
Years passed, and I felt as though I was an American. English was my first language, I adapted to the culture, and I saw no difference between me and my peers. With DACA, I was given the opportunity to attend college while paying in-state tuition. I could also get a job, open a business, buy a house or car, and get a driver's license. So far, I've accomplished a lot - getting a job, a driver's license, and attending 2 full years of college.
November 8th, 2016 - the date of the most recent American election - was not a good day for dreamers. I knew that the end to DACA was imminent. Trump, despite his campaign, went back on his word and said that DACA wasn't going anywhere. Dreamers everywhere stayed optimistic, and we believed his words.
After pressure from attorney generals from ten states, Trump decided it was time him to take action. His choice was not an easy one, Dreamers understood that - but his actions were cowardly.
US Attorney Jeff Sessions should not have been the one to make that announcement. Trump's decision has affected 800,000 people and he didn't even step up to the podium himself. I'm not going to say that I respected Donald Trump prior to today, but the last ounce of what ever I had left ended with this decision. Donald Trump's decision has made 800,000 human beings afraid of what is going to happen to them and he didn't even have the decency to make the announcement himself.
Lets clear the air. If Dreamers had the opportunity to become legal citizens, they would have. It's not as simple as walking into an immigration office, filling out an application, and giving them some money. Immigration laws vary for every case and are fully dependent on your country of origin. A Canadian immigrant's case is different than a Mexican immigrant's. There is virtually no path to citizenship other than marriage and having an American-born child who has mental or physical disabilities. Even then, citizenship is a long process and takes years or even decades to complete.
Dreamers cannot vote, they cannot apply for federal or state financial aid, and some colleges restrict them from applying for scholarships. Dreamers would not even be able to receive retirement social security benefits if DACA were gone. Dreamers did not take jobs from anyone, these jobs were open before they were allowed to work. These jobs are jobs most people do not want to do. Dreamers earned these jobs just like citizens. They met qualifications set by employers just like citizens. Dreamers have helped the economy, and have spent thousands on DACA applications and renewals. Ending DACA means the U.S GDP (gross domestic product) would lose $11.3 billion a year, and almost $433 billion in the next decade. Not to mention their contributions to social security.
Dreamers are not hurting you. But if you don't stand with Dreamers, nothing I say or do will change your mind because all you had to hear was the word "immigrant" to stop listening. But I will not let that word define me or my friends. I'm a lot more than just an immigrant.
Just remember that Dreamers are just as American as you. They serve your country. They care for your sick people. They teach your children. They save your lives. They run your companies. And they love this country even more than some of your citizens. We are American, just like you, whether you like it or not.
#HereToStay
