I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about DACA and are maybe wondering what it is. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival, which is a “ program created in 2012 by the Obama administration allowing young people brought to this country illegally by their parents to get a temporary reprieve from deportation and to receive permission to work, study and obtain driver's licenses.” Now, there is a lot of speculation and false information being spread around by uniformed people about who can be helped by DACA. Here are a few myths debunked:
1. “People who are protected under DACA are criminals.”
FALSE. Actually, people who apply for DACA must show that they have “clean criminal records” according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services .
2. “Well, they broke the law by being illegal.”
FALSE. Everyone who applied for DACA must have proof that they were brought to America when they were under the age of 16. Majority of DACA recipients were unaware of their illegality until they applied for their learner’s permit/driver’s license. These children cannot and should not be held responsible for the actions of their parents.
3. “These people don’t contribute to society.”
FALSE. Everyone who is a recipient of DACA has to be enrolled in either high school, college, or a member of the military. The DREAMers are people who want to continue their education and get jobs, just like normal American citizens. They also pay taxes, too.
4. “DACA recipients take our jobs.”
FALSE. DACA recipients do work, but they are not “taking” jobs. They have to go through screenings and applications for potential jobs, just like every employed person. They are not handed jobs; they have to look for them and apply, just like everyone else. They also have to be qualified for that job in order to hold a position.
5. “DACA students get to go to college for free!”
FALSE. DACA students cannot even apply for FAFSA unless their college uses FAFSA in order to grant state or college student aid/scholarships. The Federal Student Aid Website states, “Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, are not eligible for federal student aid.”
6. “DACA recipients get free healthcare!”
FALSE. HealthCare.gov states that, “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is not an eligible immigration status for applying for health insurance.” DACA recipients also don't get free Medicare, Food stamps, Welfare, etc.
Unfortunately, DACA recipients cannot even apply for citizenship. They can apply for “an immigrant visa if they have a Qualifying Relative (US Citizen or LPR/Green Card holder) that is willing to petition through the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.” Also, “Immigrants who have years of unlawful (undocumented) presence in the United States (like many DACAs) are considered "inadmissible" and not eligible to apply for an immigrant visa without the penalty of being barred from the United States for 3 to 10 years.” The only way to avoid this is if “if you became DACA approved before your 18th birthday, you will not accrue unlawful presence as long as you do not lapse in your DACA status.”
There are only 2 ways for DACA recipients to waive their unlawful presence, and that is through either marrying a US Citizen or having a legal entry into the country on record.
Being a DREAMer is not easy, this new action is not making it any easier. Deporting 800,000 people at one time can damage the economy and break up families.
