DREAMers belong here, should be protected
The so-calledDREAMers areworrying again about what the federal government will do to them.
These are the 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants— asmany as 50,000 in Florida— whose parents brought them to theUnited States when theywere very young. Theywere granted a type of legal status by President Barack Obama under the DeferredAction for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Early in his presidency, DonaldTrump indicated theDREAMerswouldn’t have to worry about being deported, as long as they didn’t commit a felony. They could go to school, get a diploma and then have lawful employment. They could pursue the American Dream and make life better for themselves and their communities.
But the programis nowfacing a real challenge in the courts, to the point where many believe deportation is a real possibility.
“DREAMERprotections likely are in jeopardy,” screamed a recent headline in USAToday. “Future ofDACAlooks shaky,” read another.
The problem is that 10Republican-led states— Florida is not among them— have threatened to file a lawsuit by September if the federal government doesn’t act soon to start phasing out the program.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have plans to introduce a new version of a bill granting legal status and a path to citizenship forDREAMers, but WhiteHouse legislative affairs director Marc Short said the administration is unlikely to support the new proposal.
Trump, as is often the case, has sent mixed messages on the issue. Whenhewas throwing out redmeat to his supporters on the campaign trail, theDREAMerswere caught up in his anti-immigrant fervor. After the election, Trump softened and indicated theDREAMerswould be safe.
But now, with an immigration crackdown and a need to placate his conservative base after the health care fiasco, Trumpmay go the otherway.
“It really hurtsmeto say this,” Stephen Legomsky, former senior counselor at the Department ofHomeland Security, was quoted inUSAToday, “but the chances of (theDACAprogram) surviving are very slim.”
Congress could permanently protect the DREAMers fromdeportation, orTrump himself could do it. But the present immigration crackdown— and the conservative desire to get rid of much of Obama’swork— is a good indicationWashington isn’t going to do much to protect these young people.
If theDREAMers are in danger of losing their protected status, theUnited States could wind up being a big loser, too.
Remember, these are innocent youngsters who didn’t break immigration laws, even if their parents did.
Theywent to high schools in Florida and around the country, learned English, and worked hard with the hope of being contributing members of society. In Florida, a bill passed by the Legislature in 2014 allows children of undocumented parents to pay in-state tuition rates, granting many DREAMers the chance at a college education.
DACAdoesn’t give them a path to citizenship, but those who entered the country before their 16th birthday could receive a renewable two-yearwork permit and exemption fromdeportation. Obama passed DACAwith an executive order in June 2012, after Congress didn’t pass theDREAMAct, whichwould have given conditional permanent residency to a similar group.
According to a story in the MiamiHerald, some young immigrants who enlisted in the military— they volunteered for service to protect you and the rest of the country— are concerned they could be deported if left without legal protection.
“It’smyway of giving back to this country,” Harminder Saini, who enlisted in the Army in 2016, was quoted. “They allowed meto stay here and gavemeso much.”
That’s the kind of person who could face deportation unless Congress and/orTrump do something before conservative judges in the states threatening a lawsuit take control of the situation.
It isn’t politically popular right nowto do something that will benefit immigrants. But the majority ofDREAMers are responsible, hard-working people who are a benefit to the country.
Threatening to deportDREAMers is mean-spirited, and serves no purpose other than scoring political points. They should receive protections so their dreams can remain alive.
Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page EditorRosemary O’Hara, AndrewAbramson, Elana Simms, Gary Stein and Editor-in-ChiefHoward Saltz.