Article Summary: Following the shutdown of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Gamboa gives us a scoop on what is next for DACA. Aware of the different situations people are facing in relation to DACA, she asserts that not everyone’s DACA permits will expire after the March 6, 2018 deadline— that is if your current permit does not expire until past this date. While those with withstanding and soon to be expired permits (during the time this article was written) were able reapply until the fifth of October, 2017, no new applications were accepted. Gamboa does, however, explain that there is a slight chance of hope for DACA, that is if Congress can draft and pass legislation to “revive” the program, or even come up with alternatives. Some have even filed court cases against the Trump Administration, including discrimination lawsuits.
My take:
As a previous NDNU Bonner leader, I had opportunity to visit the Richmond Detention Center a handful of times, holding vigils with families whose loved ones have been incarcerated because of their immigrant status. Seeing people cry as they tell their stories is very heartbreaking, as well as seeing how their supposed journey to freedom was taken away from them. Of the banners we held up during these vigils, the “immigrants not criminals” one spoke to me the most. The Trump Administration has been so hard on these immigrants, treating them as if they were all criminals. But they aren’t, they are the foundation of what our country is today. America is nothing without its immigrants who work so hard to keep things moving and alive. According to the Migration Policy Institute, “The U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 43.3 million, or 13.5 percent, of the total U.S. population of 321.4 million in 2015.”
I also personally know people who have DACA permits, working their butts of to make a living, to start a better life, to make America a better place, and to better their current resident status. Immigrant or not, everyone deserves a chance for education and work. These children, these immigrants, are the future generation to lead us. It is heartbreaking to see that these dedicated and driven people are being punished for “not being born in America.” Moreover, it is devastating to see that although these people have infinite potential, their chance of flourishing is being taken away from them. My hope now is that we can come up with alternatives to this program, and stand in solidarity with those being affected by this.
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