The “Dreamers” Remain in Jeopardy

President Donald Trump announced earlier this fall that the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, is imminent. This left millions of DACA recipients terrified that they would be subject to deportation. The DACA program allows for people who entered the country illegally as children to remain in the United States legally. In order to qualify for DACA, recipients must be under the age of sixteen, not be convicted of a serious crime, and be enrolled in  high school or have a GED or diploma.

The President’s decision to end DACA sparked outcry and protest by the public. However, the White House recently provided some clarity on the issue, stating that the DACA program recipients, also known as the “dreamers” will remain safe for now. This meant that they would still be able to receive work permits and will not have to worry about deportation.

Unfortunately, the President intends to permanently end DAPA, a similar program for the dreamer’s parents. The Department of Homeland Security stated that, “The future of the DACA program continues to be under review with the administration.” It is evident that President Trump intends to end the program in the near future. The program was originally implemented by President Obama. According to Trump, the program was an unprecedented use of presidential power by the former president. Trump’s supporters were displeased at the President’s statement, as most of them strongly support ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.

Eliminating DACA would theoretically cause the deportation of around 800,000 young people across the United States. These recipients have been a part of the United States economy since it was implemented in 2012. Deporting all of these people would undoubtedly have a negative impact. For the past five years, the “dreamers” have worked and studied in the United States, paid taxes and contributed to the economy.  Yet, under President Trump DACA recipients remain in constant fear of Trump’s constant destructive changes.