In light of recent events, I’ve decided to express how I feel about the government’s recent decision to rescind DACA. For those of you who don’t know, DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is a program put in place back in June 2012 for undocumented individuals that met the requirements set forth by the Department of Homeland Security. It has helped thousands of undocumented children and young adults stay in school, obtain work permits, and live at peace knowing that as long as they have DACA, they won’t face deportation. However, with the decision of Trump’s administration to shut it down, DACA’s recipients are now facing their worst nightmare.
DACA is such a complicated subject. So much so that even though I’ve grown up witnessing the efforts of the Dreamers, I can’t say I relate because it doesn’t apply to me. When it comes to college, DACA recipients are able to attend public universities but can be subjected to paying higher fees, such as out of state tuition, or even international rates. Not to mention that DACA students are not eligible for FAFSA and have to search for other ways to pay for school. Private universities might be more helpful to undocumented students, but as we all know, private universities tend to be more expensive than public ones. Not to mention that these students pay hundreds of dollars just to go through the process and obtain DACA. Oh, and the money spent to renew it every two years. It’s not easy.
DACA students truly have to take several steps for every step that we take. Instead of turning our backs on DACA students, we need to come together and support them. They have worked so hard and deserve to live at peace, unafraid of prosecution. Whether you’re red or blue, we’re all human beings at the end of the day, and above all, we understand the struggles of being in college.
The ultimate fate of DACA has yet to be resolved by congress. It makes me sad to see all of the hard work done for DACA be jeopardized one day, especially in the midst of other current events. I guess all that we can do is hope for the best and pray. And remember,