Renewing D.A.C.A.

: Keeping the Dream Alive

Sydney Mingle

English 138: Section 2

April 15, 2018

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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

Abstract:

When the Obama administration initially proposed the ​Deferred​ ​Action for
Childhood Arrivals​ ​Act​ in 2012, they faced opposition that craved stronger border
security and immigration policy. Thus, this sentiment was realized when President
Trump and his administration announced their plan to rescind DACA to emphasize the
security of the United States. However, despite the strength of the President’s divisive
and xenophobic rhetoric, DACA and the children it protects, known as DREAMers, have
the capability to benefit the American society beyond what many dissidents consider to
be “freeloading welfare” off of the tax-paying citizens. Not only would renewing DACA
embolden the United States economy and broaden the skill-set of the American people,
but it would in turn change the stigma surrounding immigration and put an end to an
“aisle-fight” between the Democratic and Republican parties of the legislative branch.
While DACA may not be the perfect fix to the broken system, it stands to protect a
population that has continuously been taken advantage of by an administration that
uses the DREAMers as a bargaining chip for political gain.

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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

The United States of America are meant to be just that - united. As a nation
dedicated to bringing together its citizens, that policy has previously extended to those
who are not technically protected by the Constitution on which it was founded. The
country has many names that demonstrate this principle, including to not limited to The
Melting Pot, The Promised Land, a Beacon of Hope, and The Land of Opportunity.
Many other countries and families hold the U.S. on a pedestal of perfection as promise
that they seek in their own home countries. That being said, some families seek that
opportunity to such a degree where they will achieve it by any means necessary. For
some, that means coming to the country illegally. These people are simply looking for a
better life for themselves and their families and a means by which to lead a successful
life. However, it is also within the Constitution that these people are not meant to stay
within our borders. Yet, even despite the threat of immediate deportation and removal
from their homes, the U.S. has a large population of undocumented immigrants that
continuously benefit the nation without expecting anything in return. The only difference
is that the immigrants ​chose​ to live here, rather than being born here. They’ve made a
home for themselves where they are most happy, where they are able to find the life
they want. In 2012, President Obama and his administration took action to ensure
protection for the most vulnerable undocumented immigrants that faced deportation, the
children. In their proposed short-term solution, the process for deportation would be
deferred until the children are more capable of integrating into American Society.1 As
the children had no choice in their arrival in the United States, the policy, Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals act (DACA), was proposed with the intention of fairly
allowing the children of undocumented immigrants to receive the opportunities that any
other American child would benefit from.
In short, DACA is an A​merican immigration policy established by the Obama
administration, allowing people who had entered the country illegally under the age of
18 to get a renewable two-year time period from deportation to their “home-country” and
become eligible for a work permit. These people under the age of 18, known as
DREAMers, would be afforded the option to benefit American society as an honorary
citizen rather than someone known as an “illegal immigrant”. It is important to note
however, that DACA does not provide a permanent legal status or citizenship to those
who qualify, simply access to previously unavailable resources. As of 2017, more than
800,000 DREAMers were enrolled in the program, with even more eligible2. While there
are strict guidelines that dictate who will be granted DACA eligibility, requiring extensive
documents provide proof of residence and arrival before June of 2007 and before their

1
​“Undocumented Students: Welcome or Not?” ​Controversies on Campus: Debating the Issues Confronting
American Universities in the 21st Century​, by Joy Blanchard, Praeger, an Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2018, pp.
64–75.
2
​Moore, Ashley. “What the DACA Repeal Could Mean for Us.” ​UWIRE​, 30 Mar. 2018. ​Proquest​.
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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

16th birthday, the ability to receive an education in the United States is one which
hundreds of thousands of people are willing to jeopardize their safety for3. As seen in
the Infographic, Figure 1.1, DREAMers come largely from Mexico and find their
residence in California, with another large portion living in Texas. DACA was not the first
attempt to lie down protections for this population however, as in 2001 a representative
submitted a proposal for the
Development, Relief, and
Education for Alien Minors
(DREAM) act4. Although the act
did not pass as a policy, the
sentiment was carried on through
DACA by naming the affected
children DREAMers. The act
does not come without opposition
however, as many Republican
representatives and politicians
disagree with the principle of
DACA’s opportunities.
One of the most vocal ​https://www.statista.com/chart/11072/who-are-americas-dreamers/
dissidents to DACA is none other
than the newest Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Trump. Every since the
beginning of his campaign for President, Trump maintained a stern rhetoric and platform
that strives to protect the United States borders from any potential threat to the function
of our daily life. That platform proved itself on September 5th of 2018 when President
Trump announced his planned decision to rescind the program that his predecessor
implemented. Although the policy was not immediately terminated, it provided a
six-month window for Congress to discuss and design a replacement program that
covered a “more appropriate” approach to immigration5. At this time, only renewal
requests are accepted for consideration and no new applicants could receive those
resources6. Even after his official announcement, Trump maintained a strong opinion
towards immigration policy, tweeting “​Border Patrol ​Agents are not allowed to properly
do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch &
Release. Getting more dangerous. “Caravans” coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear

3
​Patler, Caitlin, and Jorge Cabrera. “From Undocumented to DACAmented: Benefits and Limitations of the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, Three Years Following Its Announcement.” ​UCLA: The
Institute for Research on Labor and Unemployment​, 1 May 2015, pp. 1–7.
4
Fiflis, Christina. “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.” ​GPSolo​, vol. 30, no. 5, 2015, pp. 28–32.
5
Hoffman, Geoffrey. “Legal Consequences of DACA Recission.” ​Houston Journal of International Law​, vol. 20, 15
Dec. 2017.
6
​Moore, Ashley. “What the DACA Repeal Could Mean for Us.” ​UWIRE​, 30 Mar. 2018. ​Proquest​.
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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!”7 ​Despite President Trump’s
staunch position on United States immigration policy, the benefits of renewing DACA
outweigh its concerns on legislative, economic, and social platforms.
Ever since DACA was proposed in 2012, mainly the political left was vehemently
against the principles of the protective policy. On the other hand, the political right was
intent on furthering the act and providing more extensive resources for the DREAMers.
Thus, during the granted six-month filibuster period for the legislative branch of
government reached a stalemate that rivals any other notable ones in history. Some
states and representatives even chose to sue the federal government over the legality
of the policy. In that ruling, the fifth circuit determined that DACA should be terminated,
citing that the policy failed to follow a protocol when being initially implemented.
However, many critique this ruling as a scapegoat that itself failed to present a valid
reason. This is even substantiated by the previous ​Crane v Johnson ​case that
attempted to strike down the original, unexpanded DACA policy, where the court failed
to find sufficient evidence to proceed with the case8. Yet, the case found itself in the
limelight once again in both the judicial circuit and the House floor. Congress sparred for
half a year over the security of our nation through immigration procedure, dependent
mainly on your specific side of the aisle. They use the DREAMers as bargaining chips.
They use human lives as a ploy for political advantage. This should not only violate
constitutional laws, but all laws of human morality.
One of the most called-upon arguments against undocumented immigrants is
that they steal jobs away from hard-working Americans. Those who belief this argue
that DREAMers and their families alike undercut valuable wages and burden the
economy with the welfare they need to survive at a livable standard. President Trump
often calls upon a “113 billion dollar” figure to claim that illegal immigrants cost
taxpayers a large sum of money, when in reality the figure is closer to $1.9 billion. This
goes mostly towards educating the DREAMers such that they can be a driving force in
the American economy. 600 colleges and universities remain confident that the United
States can become “global scientific and economic leaders” by attracting global talent to
become a more innovative nation. Without the risk of market competition, immigrants
and American citizens alike are willing to work for the national benefit9. Rather than
working against each other, working together towards a common goal of bettering the
world we live in is much more rewarding than worrying over which population earns
more money than the other. Allowing the undocumented immigrants to participate in the
American economy would contribute more than $1.5 trillion to the gross domestic

7
​Aldrich, Anna Zarra. “Trump Tweets 'No More DACA Deal'.” ​UWIRE​, 3 Apr. 2018. ​Proquest​.
8
​Hoffman, Geoffrey. “Legal Consequences of DACA Recission.” ​Houston Journal of International Law​, vol. 20,
15 Dec. 2017.
9
​Maynard, Micheline. “Immigrants and the Economy.” ​CQ Researcher​, vol. 21, no. 8, 24 Feb. 2017.
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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

product (GDP)10. In order to grow as a nation economically, we first need to grow as a

community.
Aside from the aforementioned “serious” arguments for maintain the DACA policy
in the United States government, the DREAMers face obstacles that transcend tangible
values. The social stigma that follows undocumented immigrants in their community if
their “illegal” status is disclosed. Should they encounter others that disagree with their
presence in the United States, they face hostility, both spoken and and subtle. When
someone, especially a child, faces constant emotional abuse, they learn dissociative
tactics that isolate them from the outside world. Social interactions become uncharted
territory and prevent the DREAMers from making real-world connections, leaving them
unable to function on their own throughout adulthood11. These psychological impacts
extend to the education that they strive to achieve, limiting their academic success and
future job prospects. As a result, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants can
only hold minimum wage jobs as a means of supporting their lifestyle within society12.
This cycle of restricted education only helps perpetuate the stigma that DREAMers and
their families are incapable of positively benefiting the United States. Only with
comprehensive reform would these families
be allowed to break away from the pattern
dictated to them and reach their fullest
potential.
It’s clear that the United States
system of immigration has flaws that need to
be fixed in order to maintain the principles of
the United States Constitution. Democrats,
Republicans and every political affiliation in
between has an opinion on how to “solve” or
at the very least modify the current policies13
. Should DACA remain implemented in
American government, the country should
expect similar results to those that are seen
in the Infographic, Figure 1.2, where
​https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6e/fe/54/6efe542451d16ccf8dcf6b.jpg

10
​Maynard, Micheline. “Immigrants and the Economy.” ​CQ Researcher​, vol. 21, no. 8, 24 Feb. 2017.
11
​“Undocumented Students: Welcome or Not?” ​Controversies on Campus: Debating the Issues Confronting
American Universities in the 21st Century​, by Joy Blanchard, Praeger, an Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2018, pp.
64–75.
12
​Patler, Caitlin, and Jorge Cabrera. “From Undocumented to DACAmented: Benefits and Limitations of the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, Three Years Following Its Announcement.” ​UCLA: The
Institute for Research on Labor and Unemployment​, 1 May 2015, pp. 1–7.
13
​Maddie Capron. “Trump Calls for 'No More DACA Deal'.” ​UWIRE​, 1 Apr. 2018. ​Proquest​.
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 Renewing D.A.C.A.: Keeping the Dream Alive

two-thirds of DACA have job prospects and earned increasingly higher wages after
being placed under DACA protection. However, many other programs exist
to help people from other countries find a place within the United States. The H-1B
lottery allows highly skilled workers to come into the country with a visa, where they
need sponsors to potentially give the workers three years at a time of specialized work.
A green card allows immigrants to work and live within the United States, but is
extremely difficult to apply for and receive. In some nations it is also possible to apply
for temporary asylum, where the United States acts as a safe haven
from threats such as political instability and crime. Regardless of the specific action
taken to reform the system, another key requirement for legislation to consider is
creating a feasible path to citizenship for those who wish to become permanent
members of American society14. As it stands now, DACA does not supplement other
avenues of citizenship, but merely delays the process by allowing DREAMers to earn an
education within U.S. borders.
DREAMers and their families want nothing more than the opportunity and
resources to live life to the fullest. Whether they come to the United States seeking
shelter or education, their intentions align with bettering themselves and the community
around them. However, President Trump and like-minded Republicans point to nativist
and xenophobic rhetoric that attempts to exclude immigrants from the rights that are
outlined in the very foundation of American society15. While there exist many potential
solutions to the immigration process, by and large successfully integrated immigrants
become employed with better jobs, higher salaries, and health benefits than their
undocumented counterparts. The legislative branch of government will continue to
argue over the best plan of action, but first and foremost advocacy is key. Making their
voices known is the first step in a more effective immigration process that can integrate
willing immigrants into the best part of the community. Only then, when everyone is
welcome and able to enjoy in our society, will the United States truly be ​The Promised
Land16.

14
​Patler, Caitlin, and Jorge Cabrera. “From Undocumented to DACAmented: Benefits and Limitations of the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, Three Years Following Its Announcement.” ​UCLA: The
Institute for Research on Labor and Unemployment​, 1 May 2015, pp. 1–7.
15
​McNairn, Connor. “President's Actions Affect All Three Branches of Government.” ​UWIRE​, 2 Apr. 2018.
Proquest​.
16
​Donato, Katharine, and Samantha Perez. “Crossing the Mexico-U.S. Border: Illegality and Children's Migration to
the United States.” ​RSF​, July 2017.
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