DACA "The Dreamers"

There is a lot of controversy about the DACA Program. DACA is an act that helps children in the US who were brought by their parents illegally from countries all over the world. These children are called DREAMers. They are youth who have spent most of their lives in the United States. In 2012, DACA was created by the Obama Administration to help these young kids be able to attend school, get a job, and get a license. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Younger than 31 years old
• Prove they have lived here since June 15, 2007
• Arrived here before they were the age of 16
• Must have no criminal record
• Must be enrolled in high school/college or be in a military service
• DACA certification must be renewed every two years

DREAMers can be anyone. Your next door neighbor, the person you are standing next to in line at your local market, even the person you're sitting next to in your math class. It could even be the little kid you see walking home after school with a backpack as big as him.

The media often portrays DREAMers as if they all come from Mexico, but that is not the case. A story on Newsweek shows they come from all over the world. Most arrive from El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, but large amounts also come from Asia, South Asia, and the Philippines, India and Jamaica. One of the many reasons why they come over to the states, and bring their children, is for better opportunities. Better job opportunities, school opportunities for their kids, and just a better life overall.

If DACA is repealed it would have a huge effect on our economy. One website called the American Progress shows that deportation would reduce the U.S Domestic product by $433 billion over the next 10 years. The economy would take a multibillion hit if the Trump Administration decides to take away DACA. Recipients are buying cars, homes, they own businesses, and pay to attend our colleges. Overall, 41% of DREAMers are attending school, and as we know: every student that attends, schools receive money.

We interviewed a twenty seven year old who is a applicant of DACA, “I was brought to America as a little boy, and I have worked in the United States for about seven years. It scares me to think that I’m going to lose it all. After 20 years of living in the U.S I have become accustomed to the benefits, the work, and the opportunity. I was recently fired from my previous job and applied to work at Robertson’s cement company. I fear that the DACA act being repealed is going to affect my future. No work and school… the country I call my home is no longer the land of opportunity.”

The number of undocumented students that attend our school is unknown but it’s likely that there is a small population of DREAMers here at Covina High School. If you are worried about your future schooling and overall situation, talk to your counselors. Our local community college, Mt. Sac supports services to DREAMers on their website it says “Its purpose is to increase the personal growth and development, of DREAM students through academic, career, and personal counseling; peer monitoring; assistance in assistance in playing for the California Dream Act / Financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and workshops regarding DACA and other issues relative to this student population”

Even though there is a big percentage of Americans that support the DACA program there are is also a big percentage that want the program ended. An article on The Hill gives their reasons why Trump must end DACA. It explains that it isn’t constitutional and illegal. The article believes that if we reward bad behavior, than we are encouraging immigrants to do so in the future. In addition, taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to support illegal immigrants when the government could and should spend it on hospitals, schools, job training for the American citizens. In this article, they explain that instead of the US giving these people money, they should stay in their home country and try to better their country.

Whether or not you are a supporter of DACA, we all must agree these recipients have reason to want to be a citizen here. We have opportunities: jobs, education, and a stable life. The issue is hotly contested throughout the country, and as of now there is still an uncertainty about the fate of DACA and what will happen to these 800,000 people, but as a school we should support one another and our futures, no matter where we come from.