Andrea came to America from Peru when she was 11 years old. She now serves in the US Air Force. Javier came to America from Mexico when he was 5 years old. He now is the CEO of a technology investment fund. Saba came to America from Pakistan when she was 11 years old. She is now pursuing her PhD in biomedicine. All three of them, and 800,000 others, are at currently in limbo due to their DACA status. DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals) was an Obama administration initiative that allowed immigrants who arrive as children to work and attend school without fear of deportation.
While family separation has grabbed our attention recently, we should not forget the nearly one million young people (the “Dreamers”) whose futures hang in the balance with the DACA program. In exchange for the right to work and attend school, these Dreamers, submitted their personal information to the government for vetting. However, many are now worried that their personal information could be used against them by the Trump administration.
Thoughtless and Heartless
Why deport people who have been vetted and are students or productive workers? A small group of immigration hardliners are driving the harsh policies we are now seeing. Their vision of America is incompatible with immigrants. This nativist streak has had a long and shameful history in our nation from anti-Irish campaigns to the Chinese exclusion act.
Today, most Americans support DACA. Not only is deporting Dreamers unpopular, but it’s bad business too. If we deport the Dreamers, the impact on the American economy will be significant. The conservative Cato Institute indicated that America’s GDP would decrease by hundreds of billions over the next decade if the Dreamers lose their jobs. America would also lose thousands of highly skilled workers and educated young people, which will hurt our global competitiveness. In addition, deportation, business compliance, and legal battles will each have massive costs. No wonder companies from Best Buy to Lyft have all spoken up in support of DACA.
Yet far beyond any economic cost is the profound human cost. Wrenching nearly a million neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family members from their communities would be devastating. Most Dreamers came to the United States as young children, some as babies, and many have known no other home but America. The forced removal of Dreamers from our society is both thoughtless and heartless.
A Time to Act
The Dreamers represent the best of our American values. America is the land of opportunity and through their energy and effort this diverse group has sought to build a better life for themselves and their families. In reflecting on our heritage as a nation of immigrants, we should celebrate the stories of these inspiring young people.
Given the gravity of the situation, urgent action is needed to protect the Dreamers. With the Midterms approaching, many in Congress want to avoid the issue of immigration altogether. However, doing nothing is not an acceptable solution. FWD.US is a great organization that advocates for Dreamers and other immigrants and makes it easy for you to reach out to your Congressperson. In addition, FWD.US has information about upcoming rallies and events to support Dreamers. Please see the links below for ways to get involved.
Call your Senators: https://dreamers.fwd.us/call
Find events near you: https://www.fwd.us/