We all have dreams whether big or small, and we pursue these dreams no matter the consequence. These dreams can be unbelievable, unimaginable, and unconquerable, but we still pursue these dreams. These are the types of dreams immigrants have and these are the types of dreams many of them conquer, although some conquer the dream through a status of "illegal". We should not crush their dream, but should instead help them achieve it instead of discussing DACA and DREAMERS in chaotic debates. As Americans, we fail to comprehend what it is to be an illegal immigrant and fail to see the side for the DACA and the DREAM act. For most Americans, we do not support what we do not understand, and I believe if we understood DACA/DREAMERS and illegal immigrants, we would support them rather than close them out.
To support DACA and DREAMERS, we must first understand what the two acts are trying to do for illegal immigrants. In the article, "The Facts on DACA", the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA is a defined as a program which, "defers deportation proceedings for two years for qualified individuals who were brought to the United States illegally when they were children" (Robertson). The intentions of this program are simple and are not in any way trying to encourage more illegal immigrants, but is trying to find a way to help the children of illegal immigrants who were born here in America, like any other classified American. Although, these immigrants were born here, they are stilled look down upon and classified as "illegal", having their rights denied and being told to leave what to them is their home country. To continue, in the book "Dreamers: An Immigrant Generation's Fight For Their American Dream", the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors or Dream Act is explained as, "the bill aims to amend legislation pertaining to immigration to allow undocumented immigrants the same access to higher education that citizens have, regardless of the state they live in" (Truax, 211). In other words, the proposed document allows for immigrants to have their deportation and immigration status adjusted, allowing them time to seek higher education and become a part of country which continually attempts to shut them out. To continue, to obtain legal status it takes many different steps such as, "having continuously resided in the United States for five years, have good moral character, not being convicted of a crime" (Traux 211-212), just to name a few. This process can be difficult for an illegal immigrant and can cause them to face multiple issues when applying for the two acts.
Similarly, illegal immigrants face these problems in DACA and DREAMERS daily, but we do not understand their stories. For instance, Erik Gomez who was brought into the country at a young age as an illegal immigrant because his parents wanted him to have a better life. Daily Gomez feared his mother being deported stating, "Imagine having the thought everyday 'is my mother going to be home when I get off the bus this afternoon?' " (Gomez 5:46). This is a common fear among most illegal immigrants and what is far worse is the discrimination they face due to their illegal status. Gomez further stated, "Recently, presidential candidate Donald Trump called us [Mexicans] all rapists, thieves, and drug smugglers. And he was cheered by all of his followers" (Gomez 6:56). Statements like these made by Donald Trump can represent the feelings of many Americans when it comes to illegal immigrants, but these comments are unjust, uncalled for, and uneducated. Further, these comments can influence the believes of Americans, and become reflective of what we believe true, because of our trust in the government. Although, each act is helping illegal immigrants, they are also hurting them because they are preventing each immigrant from obtaining their legal status quickly enough, causing many immigrants to have to wait years before receiving their status. For example, "In 2012 there were 798,980 approved for DACA, but nearly 72,000 were denied and 70,000 did not renew or were rejected to renew their status" (Robertson). Although, it seems many illegal immigrants obtained DACA, a staggering number were unable to or prevented from obtaining it. This is a large issue which lies within DACA and the Dream Act and it needs to be solved immediately. However, DACA and the Dream Act are still strong acts which serve to help immigrants, but there are still many Americans who have a misconception about the immigrants who are being helped.
To continue, as American's we have a misconception of illegal immigration and further have a misconception of our country. Beliefs such as these cause us to form opinions and theories to prevent illegal immigration and our minds solve the issue. Americans such as Jaclyn Haak believe, "Granting legal status to Dreamers could potentially cause a domino effect in which other families bring young children, hoping that in time their children will be granted legal status" (Jordan). Beliefs like this one do not have any factual basis and further prevent illegal immigration to get any better. Furthermore, legal immigrants such Mr. Pham also believe illegal immigrants should be stopped saying, "If we can do it the legal way, so can they" (Jordan). The misconception legal immigrants are enforcing with their comment is all illegal immigrants traveled to America as illegals which is not the case because some illegal immigrants were once legal, but are either being prevented from receiving legal status again or are still waiting for their status to be determined. Moreover, Americans and legal immigrants distance themselves from illegal immigrants, but what truly differentiates an illegal immigrant from a legal immigrant. Specifically, "More than two decades of research has revealed that illegal immigrants come to America for the same reasons and by means of the same network of friends and families as legal immigrants…the Immigration and Naturalization Service has estimated, about 50% of illegal immigrants originally arrived here as legal immigrants" (Skerry). In other words, there is no real difference to illegal and legal immigrants other than the term which is used to describe them because they both come to America for the same dream and they apply for the same forms. In addition, we further have the misconception of how we view immigrants and the terms we use to describe each of them. For instance, "The same organizations that used to denounce the term 'illegal alien' and righteously insist on the bowdlerized 'undocumented worker' have been so much on the defensive in the current anti-immigrant environment that they have accepted a simple-minded formula— 'illegal immigrant, bad, legal good' (Skerry). To clarify, we create the idea in our minds illegal immigrants offer nothing to the country, but destruction while legal immigrants are better because they are in our mind "American". Further, we discriminate against illegal immigrants referring to them as "illegal aliens", to further shut them out of the country and to shove in their faces the "American Dream", they do not deserve because they are "foreign" or in some sense "unnatural". Furthermore, our "American Dream" is ingrained in our societal beliefs, "America is the greatest nation in the world" (Gomez 0:41), but due to this belief we feel we have a sense of superiority to other countries and other people. Even more, because of this belief we have built the idea, "…immigrants are lazy, they're dangerous, they're coming to this country to steal jobs from hard-working Americans while dragging down the economy and bringing diseases with them" (Gomez 0:57). This is not true and continues to be a misconception due to our misunderstanding of illegal immigrants and their effect on America.
However, regardless of much of America's misconceptions illegal immigrants are not hurting our country. For example, "13% of the 7.3 billion residents [immigrants] would make the decision to permanently relocate, but may not have the means of necessities" (Gomez 3:40). Although, to many of us it may seem every immigrant is coming to America, this is far from the case because many are not either because they do not want to or because they are unable to. To continue, "About two thirds of illegal immigrants in the US work, making up about 4.9% of the total US workforce" (In Depth). Frequently, as Americans we assume, illegal immigrants are not contributing to our America, or when they are contributing, we believe they are stealing jobs from us. But this is not the case, many immigrants are contributing, and are not preventing Americans from receiving these jobs such as "agriculture, food preparation, transport, and construction" (In Depth ), they are receiving the positions just as an American would. It could be said they are only receiving these positions, so business owners can spend less money, but this is not the fault of illegal immigrants who are trying to better the lives of themselves and their loved ones. Moreover, preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining legal status is the main contributor to damaging the economy of America. Specifically, "Barron estimates that repealing DACA would also hit the U.S. government by deporting taxpayers. He forecasts a potential $60 billion loss in tax revenue to the federal government and $280 billion hit to economic growth over 10 years" (Gillespie). Illegal immigrants are not hurting the America, but are trying to become a part of it and by doing so they can enhance and better the country.
Although, there may be facts supporting illegal immigrants not damaging the "American Dream", there are still many trying to prevent DACA and get rid of DREAMERS. But getting rid of these acts is another contributing factor to hurting the country. For instance, "Getting rid of DACA reduces the number of skilled workers and a lot of industries are facing worker shortages. To push this now is really an inopportune time" (Gillespie). To end DACA, would mean preventing a growing resource of "skilled workers" such as immigrants especially those using or trying to obtain DACA. Furthermore, the end of these acts will hurt more than just America, but will also hurt individuals. Specifically, "Today President Trump announced his decision to terminate the DACA…In so doing, he has chosen to uproot the lives of over 800,000 young people who have received two years of renewable work authorization and temporary reprieve from deportation…" (Golden). The lives of many of these illegal immigrants has been enrooted in the American system and ending DACA or the Dream Act will only cause them to be deported back to a country which they have no real connection to, are not familiar with, or was trying to get away from to obtain a better life. For instance, "DACA recipients entered the country as children, have grown up here and call the United States home…more than 90 percent of DACA youth are currently employed and nearly half are enrolled in school" (Golden). The lives of these immigrants, is here in America, but we as a country are trying to change their lives drastically by failing to support these acts. Our decision to get rid of or to keep DACA or DREAMERS, is a big decision which can strongly affect our future and the way our country overall looks.
Furthermore, our future as a country is developing and is changing based off illegal immigrants. For example, "Among the projected 441 million Americans in 2065, 78 million will be immigrants and 81 million will be people born in the U.S. to immigrant parents" (Cohn). In other words, America will continue in a trend of immigration and will consist of multitudes of people who are not just one ethnicity or race. Just as immigration started our country, we will in our future continue to prosper with more immigrants. To continue, America will represent a larger diverse culture and will reflect a change which is being fought for now. For instance, "Census projections show that by the census of 2050, the United States will no longer have a clear white majority…Fifty-three percent of the population will be multiracial or nonwhite, compared with less than 40 percent currently" (Goldstein). The diversity of America will continue to grow regardless of those against immigration, most notably illegal immigrants trying to obtain legal status. In the future, America will represent a culture which America continues to claim to want, but constantly tries to shut out which is one built and growing from immigrants.
Moreover, as we grow as a country we must take action and answer the question of "what to do about illegal immigration?", whether we side with it or against it. Although, we each come from different sides, there is a way for us to come to a single agreement if we are open minded and keep a conversation going. For example, "…a long-simmering dispute between Democrats and Republicans over immigration has finally boiled over…Democrats are trying to take a stand and force Republican leaders to make a deal giving deportation protections to hundreds of thousands of unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the US as children" (Prokop). The dispute of immigration, Democrats and Republicans keep arguing over is a clear example of how our country is continually split over this topic, most notably because this is what caused the government to shut down. As a country, we want our sides to be heard, but even more we want to have our beliefs be "the solution". But this is not the right way to solve issues like illegal immigration instead we need to hear each side and find a solution together rather than separately. We do not need to avoid politics, but rather continue to discuss them.
To conclude, illegal immigration, DACA, and DREAMERS are topics which leave America confused or in a chaotic state. They cause us to believe the worst in America, lose hope for humanity, and believe the way for America to be considered "great again" is to prevent people from entering America or from ever becoming a part of it. But this is not what we should do, we should not prevent immigration, and we should not prevent immigrants coming to America from obtaining legal status. The only way for illegal immigration, DACA, and DREAMERS to achieve a solution is for America to have an open discussion, solve problems rather than create more of them, and be open minded to the topic.