DACA recipients

In 2012, in an attempt to protect young immigrants and essential workers, the Barack Obama administration implemented the so-called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which protects those known as “Dreamers” from deportation, who came to the US without legal documentation when they were minors.

Currently, this program offers protection to more than 600,000 immigrants for two years, with the possibility of extension, and gives them the opportunity to apply for a legal work permit, which is also a benefit for the local economic system.

Yet even though this immigration program protects thousands of essential workers, it has been on the tightrope for the past four years thanks to former President Trump’s stance when it comes to irregular immigration.

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The Trump administration’s battle to eradicate DACA

The Trump administration used every tool at its disposal to remove DACA from benefits offered to immigrants in the US. For the former president, undocumented immigrants should not have access to relief programs, regardless of whether they need international protection or whether they are minors or not.

Let’s look at some important facts:

• After multiple legal processes, the US Supreme Court of Justice ruled in favor of DACA recipients in June 2020.
• The Trump administration did not comply with this order and stated that it would not receive new DACA applications and would extend existing permits for only one year instead of two until further notice.
• A court in New York intervened in the DACA case again and, in December 2020, ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the program following guidelines initially established by the Obama administration.
• DACA had a pending hearing at the end of December 2020 in a Houston court and the federal judge has yet to release his verdict on whether DACA itself is valid as an immigration program or not.

The Biden administration vows to protect DACA recipients

The 46th President of the US took office on January 20, 2021 and has repeatedly expressed his support for DACA and the Dreamers, who are also essential workers in times of crisis.

In fact, on the first day in office, President Biden signed a memorandum, directing his team to create strategies to enhance, strengthen, and preserve the DACA program to protect young immigrants from deportation.

Dreamers in Arizona still feel the future is uncertain

Despite President Biden’s support, many DACA recipients still fear that the new administration will not deliver on its promises and that their future in the US is in jeopardy.

For instance, according to the testimony of several DACA recipients in Arizona, there are mixed feelings regarding what will happen to this immigration program, whether the Biden administration will expand alternatives for them, or if Congress will not allow it.

According to a Dreamer’s opinion, “They’ve been offering that they’re going to give us a package of citizenship since Obama’s first term, and look at us now, we’re in 2021 and nothing’s happened.”

Adding to that, they state that they are an essential part of the US’ economic system as they work in all kinds of sectors and many of them are on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19.

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