DACA is an American immigration policy that allows those who have illegally entered the country under eighteen to obtain work permits and have “deferred action” from deportation. Those protected by DACA are known as Dreamers and they are at risk of being deported. The majority of Dreamers have no knowledge of anything but America. DACA is a topic of interest for me because there are several people I know that are impacted by the DACA repeal. I would like to learn more about how DACA impacts Dreamers daily lives. What are the mental effects? Because many of those who came to America are escaping war, prosecution, dictatorship, or lack of jobs, I believe Dreamers should continue to obtain deferred action.
I found two resources at the New York Times website. In the articles, Dreamers’ Put Their Trust in DACA. What Now? and The Psychic Toll of Trump’s DACA Decision both authors explain DACA and its impact on immigrants. I used these articles because they both included personal stories…show more content… ‘Dreamers’ Put Their Trust in DACA. What Now? by Jose Antonio Vargas, Vargas retells his story of the first time he told someone that he was undocumented. When Jose Vargas explains life before DACA, he describes that “It [the US government] could deport you from the place you call home. That’s a fear I live with.” Vargas informs that the first time he told an adult about not being document was when he was sixteen and in high school. His choir class was going on a trip to Japan but he could not go because he did not have a passport. Vargas explained to his teacher that he did not have a passport or legal documents; therefore, he could not go on the trip to Japan. Vargas’ teacher changed the location of the class trip to Hawaii so that Vargas could go. Later, his teacher told him “You were my kid. I wasn’t going to leave any of my kids behind.” Vargas was left with a positive experience of love and compassion from his choir teacher who did all she could to include
