Brenda Gonzalez
Professor Collin Hutchison
English 1302
05 May 2018
An Argument for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals
At this moment the nation’s attention has turned to immigration and the current political climate regarding Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals also known as DACA. DACA is an immigration policy that allows certain individuals who were brought into the United States as minors to request a renewable two-year deferred action from deportation as well as eligibility for a work permit. However, it is not as simple as requesting DACA just for being brought into the country as a child. There are certain guidelines the individual must meet in order to be considered for DACA. DACA is essential to protect those individuals that were brought into the country as minors without a choice.
Considering that these children were brought to and raised as Americans we have a duty to protect them and give them the opportunity to become American Citizens to work here legally.
Although, DACA is not a pathway to citizenship, it is a great start to protect its recipients from deportation as long as they are law abiding and meet the required guidelines. Along with authorization for employment the recipients are also given a given a social security number that allows them to build financial credit and contribute to the economy via income tax.
In order to understand DACA and its policies, it is important to first understand its history. DACA was executed as an executive order during the Obama administration on June 15, 2012. “As of Sept. 4, 2017, there were 689,800 DACA recipients”, and every single recipient had to follow certain requirements. ( Robertson., L, 2018). There are many myths that revolve around DACA and its recipients. Negative myths include an agenda to try to present DACA students as a burden to the United States economy. A specific myth includes that DACA recipients work the system to get free college tuition. Reality is that DACA students do not qualify for federal Financial Aid, and although they may qualify for State Aid in Texas, they do not receive nearly as much aid as Citizens. DACA students that work, contribute to federal taxes but miss out on most of the federal programs that help low income individuals. Another myth is that the Obama administration handed out thousands of DACA applications and work permits to all undocumented minors. Reality is that the application is costly, the total fee is $495, not including optional lawyer fees to ensure applications are filled correctly. Many undocumented people that may have qualified for DACA did not apply because of the costly application fee and fear of deportation if their case was denied. Recipients had to undergo background checks and get finger print screens. DACA recipients are not a threat to National Security or the economy. “Not convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor or three or more other misdemeanors” is only one of the many requirements needed to qualify for DACA. (Robertson, L. 2018). An example of an economic contribution is the application fee alone, for 700,000 applications that adds up to $346,500,000. It is important to notice this is not a one-time fee, but one paid out every two years. Overall the application cost since the first wave of submissions have cost DACA applicants over a billion dollars. “Overall, undocumented immigrants paid $13 billion into the retirement trust fund, but will only receive $1 billion in benefits, the Social Security Administration estimated” (Totiyapungprasert, P. 2018). Besides economic contributions, DACA recipients are also compose of soon to graduate or graduated health care workers, educators, and other professions that help out American people.
Changes under the Trump Administrations have posed a direct threat to the recipients of DACA and other undocumented residents that demonstrate strong morals and values. “Republican attorneys general and governors threatened legal action against the executive branch if the Trump administration didn’t rescind the 2012 DACA memorandum by Sept. 5, 2017.” (Robertson, L. 2018, January 23) The Trump administration didn’t end the DACA program at that instant. however, they will no longer accept new DACA applications. Also, Renewals would only be allowed to be processed for those whose DACA status expires by March 5. When it comes to this day on average 915 DACA recipients would be once again be illegal per day, until the final DACA recipient expires in March 2020. The administration also isn’t approving any new law requests.
After the DACA program is over with, many of the DACA recipients will fear being deported. They will fear for their family members as well as the government has all their information. Which can put their family as risk. It is known that Under DACA, any deportation action is delayed. However, DACA status can be removed at any moment. This will only happen if they are charged with a crime. Since DACA recipients must have a clean record. Several bills have been suggested in Congress to sustain a path to legal status for DACA recipients, and anyone who was brought into to the United States as a minor illegally. Those eligible for any future path to citizenship would include those who came to the United States at age 17 or younger. They would also have been continuously present in the United States for four years before enactment of the bill.
This issue to related to human rights by denying many DACA recipient the right to live peacefully and not fearing on getting deported. Most of these recipients don’t know another country as home other than the United States. They are being denied the “American Dream” when all they know is this country. Who are we to tell them they aren’t American enough to be a citizen, if this is all they know and were raised on the customs of America. In my opinion ending the DACA program is unnecessary and is taking away many incomes for their families who have benefited from this program. It completely takes away the concept of the American dream and why our country is great. The American dream is what people wish and hope for. Our country promises freedom and opportunity. They help build up the economy, they are part of our country. Sadly, for these hard working DACA recipients, they will fear deportation from the only place they know as home. I believe that we are all illegals, from when this country was once populated by native Americans. It is of poor value and absurd to kick someone out of their home. The outcome to end the DACA program will stop our country from reaching its highest capacity. We bypass on a considerable amount of smart talented people. Ending DACA will be a big loss for the United States. At this point, the future for DACA recipients remains uncertain.