The U.S. needs dreamers — and their monetary contributions. Let them stay.

The ongoing challenge of what exactly must be done about undocumented immigrants has caused a catastrophic divide in our nation. Especially now that President Trump has announced plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects children brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. This severely impacts a large number of immigrants. The Center for American Progress reported that “according to the latest publicly avail- able data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 741,546 unauthorized young people have received DACA.”

These undocumented immigrants now fear being deported back into a country that most of them have never come to know because their only home is the U.S. Ending DACA — and Congress not saving it this year — will not only significantly impact the lives of immigrants but the lives of all Americans, as well. By ending DACA, tax contributions will decline by $24.6 billion over 10 years, according to Brown Political

Review.

I believe that a new, improved reform to our immigration system is essential, now that the program has been terminated. DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the U.S., as long as they haven’t committed a felony. And undocumented immigrants should be allowed to gain citizenship, if they are in danger in their own country of origin or have been living in the U.S. for most of their lives.

I believe most Americans will accept of such a policy. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 68% of registered voters said illegal immigrants should remain and apply for citizenship. Gabriela Medina Mundelein, Ill.

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