By Donia FiroozSpecial to the Chronicle
Being raised in this country, receiving an education, paying taxes or serving in the U.S. military makes you American in almost every sense of the word. Dreamers, those protected under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), did not choose to come to this country. They were children brought over by their parents and have known nowhere else as their home.
However, they now fear deportation into unknown countries because of their lack of citizenship. Even though President Trump promised to protect them for a time as he tweeted, “For all of those (DACA) that are concerned about your status during the 6 month period, you have nothing to worry about – No action,” those protected under DACA still fear for their place in America.
DACA was an executive action created in 2012 to address young immigrants coming into the country illegally with their parents. They were invited to declare themselves with the government, and in return, required to earn a high school diploma, be enrolled in higher education or enlist while not committing any serious crimes.
With these conditions, DACA recipients would receive a social security number, driver’s license and would be able to legally find work. Although this was not permanent citizenship, it allowed young immigrants to live their lives without the fear of being deported. However, the new president recently made the decision to terminate DACA. This has become one the most regressive actions he has taken so far in the short time he has held office.
As of March 5, 2018, approximately 1.7 million immigrants recognized under DACA will no longer be residing in the states legally. They will be deported to countries that they do not remember or even know. Many under this deal are students and this will affect their studies in detrimental ways.
Congress has now been given six months to legalize DACA in order for these Americans to be allowed to stay in the states. The administration has already put a halt on DACA by no longer accepting new applicants, deciding to place politics over principle by ridding themselves of this Obama-era deal.
The words spoken during the campaign trail have held little promise, as Trump had held he would treat this issue with a “big heart.” Rather, he has proceeded to illustrate his desire to intimidate immigrants and also his lack of knowledge of the matter.
Many supporters of Trump’s plan to terminate DACA argue that the Dreamers are no longer children. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach expressed that Dreamers “need to go home and get in line.” However, this is against everything that America stands for. Ultimately, they are home and all that should be done is Congress passing a bill in support of DACA.
As for Hofstra, students that benefit from the DACA program are in an unknown state and fear for their future. President Rabinowitz sent an email to all students to solidify this school’s core values of tolerance and respect for the students, stating the people at this school that benefit from the DACA program and improve this campus will not be judged because of their citizenship status.
With President Trump continually switching his position on the DACA deal, we are left waiting to see what the future holds. The best way to move forward is to band together as a community – and mainly as a country – to hold strong the principals that America was built on.
This country was founded by immigrants and still benefits greatly from the immigrants; deporting young Americans who only know the U.S. as their country would be a large step back from the progress it has made.
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