DREAMers belong here, should be protected

The so-called DREAMers are worrying again about what the federal government will do to them.

These are the 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants — as many as 50,000 in Florida — whose parents brought them to the United States when they were very young. They were granted a type of legal status by President Barack Obama under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Early in his presidency, Donald Trump indicated the DREAMers wouldn’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 program is now facing a real challenge in the courts, to the point where many believe deportation is a real possibility.

“DREAMER protections likely are in jeopardy,” screamed a recent headline in USA Today. “Future of DACA looks shaky,” read another.

The problem is that 10 Republican-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 for DREAMers, but White House 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. When he was throwing out red meat to his supporters on the campaign trail, the DREAMers were caught up in his anti-immigrant fervor. After the election, Trump softened and indicated the DREAMers would be safe.

But now, with an immigration crackdown and a need to placate his conservative base after the health care fiasco, Trump may go the other way.

“It really hurts me to say this,” Stephen Legomsky, former senior counselor at the Department of Homeland Security, was quoted in USA Today, “but the chances of (the DACA program) surviving are very slim.”

Congress could permanently protect the DREAMers from deportation, or Trump himself could do it. But the present immigration crackdown — and the conservative desire to get rid of much of Obama’s work — is a good indication Washington isn’t going to do much to protect these young people.

If the DREAMers are in danger of losing their protected status, the United 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.

They went 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.

DACA doesn’t give them a path to citizenship, but those who entered the country before their 16th birthday could receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. Obama passed DACA with an executive order in June 2012, after Congress didn’t pass the DREAM Act, which would have given conditional permanent residency to a similar group.

According to a story in the Miami Herald, 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’s my way of giving back to this country,” Harminder Saini, who enlisted in the Army in 2016, was quoted. “They allowed me to stay here and gave me so much.”

That’s the kind of person who could face deportation unless Congress and/or Trump do something before conservative judges in the states threatening a lawsuit take control of the situation.

It isn’t politically popular right now to do something that will benefit immigrants. But the majority of DREAMers are responsible, hard-working people who are a benefit to the country.

Threatening to deport DREAMers is mean-spirited, and serves no purpose other than scoring political points. They should receive protections so their dreams can remain alive.