Can Biden pave way for citizenship for Dreamers?
An overwhelming sigh of relief could be heard across social media platforms on Nov. 14. That was after federal judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled Chad Wolf, President Trump’s appointed secretary of Homeland Security, was not legally serving in office in July when he enacted new restrictions on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known commonly as DACA.
DACAwas implemented in 2012 by the Obama administration. It provides protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants who came to the United
States as children, as well as a work permit and a Social Security number.
DACAhas strict limitations including no previous criminal record and proof the recipient came to the United States prior to the age of 16. Arecipient cannot have been older than 30 when the program was launched, they must have graduated high school, and they are required to renew their eligibility for DACAevery two years.
Trump has been fighting for more restrictive immigration policy the entirety of his presidency, creating an increasingly stressful United States to live in for DACArecipients, known commonly as Dreamers based on the never-passed proposal in Congress called the DREAMAct that addresses some of the same issues as DACA.
Despite the November win for DACA and Trump’s presidency coming to an end, Dreamers continue to struggle with maintaining their rights.
Trump’s new restrictions on DACA were enacted after the Supreme Court’s rejection in June of his administration’s attempt to repeal the program. Trump expressed his disappointment on Twitter and moved forward by having Wolf enact restrictions that would require renewal by DACArecipients every year instead of every two years, as the legislation originally mandated.
The Trump administration also froze any new applicants to DACA. These restrictions have already begun making the future for DACArecipients that much harder. Many Dreamers were unable to renew their enrollment when the requirement to do so occurred a year earlier than expected, or were unable to apply at all, leaving them to struggle financially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency estimates 643,560 people are enrolled in the program. These people rely on DACAto live, work and thrive in the U.S. Had these
new restrictions continued, there would have been heavy economic consequences as, according to research conducted by the American Action Forum, Dreamers contribute $42 billion to the economy. They are considered by CEOs like Apple’s Tim Cook to be crucial in paving the way for innovative technology and gross domestic product growth, according to a briefing he filed in support of DACA.
Put simply, Dreamers are American citizens. They have lived here since they were children and know no other home. Any restrictions to DACAwould negatively impact the U.S. economy and the
lives of these Americans.
Dreamers have lived in terror these last four years, as Trump’s anti-immigrant views have seeped into all corners of the government. WhenTrump first took office, it was not a matter of if he was going to come for Dreamers, it was a matter of when.
Dreamers need DACAto work, to attend school and to lead successful lives. Every week Dreamers fight for their right to be recognized as legal citizens, and that fight is exhausting. Each time a ruling goes in favor, they find moments of respite. But then the next attack towards DACAor their rights gets proposed and they must fight again.
Dreamers and their supporters are tired, but the alternative to fighting is accepting defeat. It is giving in to the idea that Dreamers do not deserve to be successful, giving into the idea that they are somehow different from any other child who has grown up in America listening to American Top 40 and playing in schoolyards.
Trump does not have enough time remaining in his presidency to attack DACAagain. Instead, the responsibility for the future of Dreamers will be given to President-elect Joe Biden.
Biden was vice president under President Obama when DACAwas enacted. He expressed his support for DACAin 2012. Whenthe Supreme Court ruled in favor of DACAin June, Biden said in a statement, “The joy of today’s victory does not erase the difficult road ahead. Weknowthat much work remains to be done.”
Biden kept that view of DACA throughout his campaign and tried to garner support from Dreamers. On his website, Biden lists a plan to provide citizenship to 11 million undocumented people and has been quoted as saying he plans on reinstating DACAonthe first day of his presidency.
But Dreamers have been through so much already they can only view Biden and his words with cautious optimism.
Biden has a lot of work to do to readdress DACAand to pave the way for permanent citizenship for Dreamers. We can only hope his comments concerning Dreamers hold up in his presidency.
We can only hope Dreamers can continue to dream and leave behind the nightmare of uncertainty about their futures. If not, Dreamers and their supporters are ready to pick up their torches and continue this critical fight.