Monarch butterflies, passionate activists, and signs proclaiming “we’re here to stay” have all become symbols of the movement to defend DACA recipients from deportation in marches and protests over the past 12 years. This weekend marks the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, established by the Obama administration in 2012. Greisa Martinez Rosas, director of United We Dream, reflects on the emotion she felt when DACA was announced, as someone who crossed the border as a child and later became an advocate for Dreamers.
Rosas waited a year out of fear to apply for DACA, worried that providing her information would lead to her mother’s deportation. Despite feeling that receiving her work permit was anticlimactic, she transitioned to full-time advocacy at United We Dream, a position she still holds today. Alongside her, Astrid Silva also became a face of the DACA movement after crossing the border as a child. Silva emphasizes the need for a permanent solution for Dreamers, who currently number over 500,000 active beneficiaries of the DACA policy. Both women have spent over a decade advocating for their communities and urge others not to take their status for granted.
With immigration being a prominent issue in the upcoming election, President Biden has issued executive orders regarding undocumented immigrants. A relief program is reportedly being prepared that would provide work permits and deportation protections to unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens, as well as streamlining the process for Dreamers to obtain temporary visas. Biden’s campaign has released ads highlighting his stance on immigration, contrasting it with the policies of former President Trump, who terminated DACA in 2017. Trump has promised mass deportations if reelected, a proposal that has bipartisan support among voters.
The future of DACA remains uncertain as legal battles continue, prompting advocacy efforts to protect Dreamers and push for lasting solutions. Elected officials are campaigning on contrasting policies regarding undocumented immigrants, with both Republicans and Democrats offering proposals for the future of DACA and immigration. As the anniversary of the program approaches, the debate on the fate of Dreamers intensifies, with the future hanging in the balance. The determination of activists like Rosas and Silva highlights the ongoing fight to secure protections for DACA recipients and the broader undocumented immigrant community.
