Unfair System: DACA VS. Citizenship
“While I never had to undergo such process, my heart still aches for those with the ongoing battle.” -Hedy Sanchez
The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.
That is the idealism that America was founded on. With patriotism nowadays, we often forget about what makes the United States truly united. Being the number one country in its diversity status, why is it hard to acknowledge that? What we often hear about in the news is the situation with immigration, especially authorities such as ICE, are constantly influencing Americans. Deferred actions of childhood arrivals (DACA) is a program which protects immigrant children who were brought to the United States. This program is a very intensive process and requires several proofs on why these children should be granted permission to live in this country. These children have proven to be more proper U.S. citizens than actual citizens. With both triumphs and risks of DACA recipients, their process will never become easier. As we dig in deeper, I will bring to light the perfect, well-rounded eligible immigrant children as well as a typical American and their influence on the United States.
It is ideal to continue a higher education to ensure a stable future. Not only a future for oneself, but even in the country’s aspect.. Out of the 800,000 DACA recipients, or DREAMERS, 97% are working or enrolled in school. Once of age, DREAMERS need to be enrolled in school, and with that they have achieved a 45% enrolled rate (Mathema). Pursuing bachelor degrees or higher, these students must be smart, driven, and have motivation to keep on their own studies. 72% of those pursuing higher education are in majors that include mental labor and capability. These majors include biochemistry, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, early childhood education, economics, environmental science, history, or even law (Mathema). The list goes on and on for these students. With achieving higher education being a constant struggle in America, the national graduation rate is 46% (Hansen). Although the numbers of overall American students being drastically larger than of overall DACA recipients, these students have nothing that differs from the other. The only thing? One student has a granted life here in the United States, however the other has to prove their best in the academics aspect to stay in this country for a purpose. DACA recipients often struggle when applying to school because of their legal status. While American students are suggested to pursue higher education, even with help from the government, it is a different story for DREAMERS. Since they are still considered undocumented, they receive no federal student aid. They are limited to a small number of colleges that are able to accept the undocumented. While the federal government’s annual budget for student grants is $32 billion, with just $30 billion claimed, those $2 billion will make a difference. But, because of the incapability of applying for FAFSA, dreams of having a career are dreams not yet becoming realities (Federal Student Aid). This shows the inherent educational advantages given to American citizens, in contrast to DREAMERS.
The rising question of what use do these recipients provide in return to this country, are the people questioning whether this country is worthy of deserving, hard working people. Is there an overall value of these DREAMERS? The economical purposes these people provide for our country is far from imaginable. Center for American Progress stated that at least 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies, that includes Walmart, Apple, and Amazon, employ DACA recipients. With all companies included, there is an approximate of $2.8 trillion in annual revenue (Wong). Not only do these recipients make significant contributions such as earning higher wages, which in return favor higher tax revenue and benefit all Americans, but even with all those economical benefits of a NON citizen, more than 10 million citizens are unemployed (Long). Whether their circumstances may be different, more so citizens who are retired or disabled, as stated before 97% of DREAMERS are after something more. Just as these economical benefits are in favor, safety benefits are also included. These recipients have purchased vehicles along with registrations and title fees. With added revenue from states, these recipients are licensed and insured. On the other hand, nearly 32 million uninsured drivers are in the U.S (Borrelli). With that number in mind, even having precautions drivers are now even of benefit to citizens.
All people want is to live in a safe country, but with the inevitability of your neighbor, friend, or even family member committing felons in any sort of fashion, it is now becoming a common trend to commit crimes. Citizens often commit federal offenses, even as simple as a speeding ticket, and do not need to worry about being deported or losing their title, as in most cases, a simple warning is all they get. On the contrary, these people under the DACA organization have to be very careful and wise about their actions. They act more like civil citizens than those who actually are. Those with clean records and ultimately examples of good US citizens, are not going to affect the current state we are in when they are granted citizenship. In fact, 900 Daca recipients are serving the military. According to Immigration Equality, in order to even be considered to be under the DACA program, one of the requirements is to not pose a threat to national security or public safety. Even in the process of being a recipient, you have to be clean of any convicted felony or any significant misdemeanors. Now, less than 0.2% DACA applicants were denied their application because of criminal activity, but just as those aspiring recipients did not receive what they applied for, similarly 2.27% of the total U.S. voting-eligible population were felons and disenfranchised from voting (Uggen). That equals out to be 5.2 million Americans with a felony conviction background. Dreamers have already proven their intentions, and they still uphold their DACA title. What difference will it make when they are already maintaining qualities, doing and acting as any great U.S. citizen would do? Having a more unified country is all anyone can dream of. The idea of no conflicts, questioning, or even legal situations is ultimately the ideal United States.
The following quote represents the current state of DACA recipients and the battle of obtaining citizenship:
“People were really afraid, people were afraid to be deported and leave the only place that they’ve known as home for their entire life. Right now, there is a huge relief among our DREAMER community, but the sentiment is that there is still a lot of work to do.” -Holly Wellborn
The opportunity to have our voices heard is out there. We are the change of this country, we are the future. Local places like the TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION (TIRRC) provide several ways to campaign and empower immigrants and refugees and help develop a unified voice, defend their rights, and create an atmosphere in which they are recognized as positive contributors to the state. The consideration of pushing the government to grant these dignified people US citizenship is a step further into a more unified country. With clean records and ultimately examples of good US citizens, these recipients are not going to affect the current state we are in. As mentioned, and proven, before these people are increasing our educational and economical value. These recipients even go as far to prove their loyalty to the country by serving in the military. As immigration laws are constantly changing, the goal to grant these deserving people a citizenship will be just as intense, or even more, as a process to their first step, DACA.
Works Cited
“About Us.” Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, https://www.tnimmigrant.org/about
Borrelli, Lena. “Uninsured Motorist Statistics and Facts 2021.” Bankrate, 13 May 2021, https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/uninsured-motorist-statistics/
“Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).” Immigration Equality, 30 Oct. 2020, https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/other-paths-to-status/deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca/.
“Financial Aid and Undocumented Students..” Federal Student Aid, Apr. 2021, https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/financial-aid-and-undocumented-students.pdf?sf28099730=1.
Hanson, Melanie. “College Graduation Statistics.” Education Data Initiative, 9 Aug. 2021, https://educationdata.org/number-of-college-graduates
Hanson, Melanie. “Financial Aid Statistics.” Education Data Initiative, 15 Aug. 2021, https://educationdata.org/financial-aid-statistics
Long, Heather. “How Many Americans Are Unemployed? It’s Likely a Lot More than 10 Million.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 19 Feb. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/19/how-many-americans-unemployed/
Mathema, Silva. “What DACA Recipients Stand to Lose-and What States Can Do about It.” Center for American Progress, 13 Sept. 2018, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2018/09/13/458008/daca-recipients-stand-lose-states-can/
Uggen, Chris, and Ashley Nellis. “Locked out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction.” The Sentencing Project, 13 Aug. 2021, https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/locked-out-2020-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights-due-to-a-felony-conviction/
Wong, Tom K, and Greisa M Rosas. “DACA Recipients’ Economic and Educational Gains Continue to Grow.” Center for American Progress, 19 Sept. 2019, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/08/28/437956/daca-recipients-economic-educational-gains-continue-grow
