DACA recipient worries about future after Trump moves to end program
After President Trump decided to end the DACA program, many Dreamers now worry for their future.
“Like many other people, I was very heartbroken.”
One Dreamer, who asked to remain anonymous, is now unclear of his future.
“We are people that want to improve our lives,” he said. “We are not here necessarily to take anybody’s jobs. And I felt, listening to Jeff Sessions speak, I felt as if he was insulting us because we came here to get a better education, not take anybody’s jobs.”
Education is one of the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be approved for DACA.
“After finishing my associates, I’m planning to transfer to ISU to obtain a paralegal studies bachelors. And unfortunately, because of my status, I don’t even qualify for financial aid. Even with DACA. So my only plan is to be able to find a job.”
But even that could be difficult once his DACA status expires.
“Well, they’re going to lose their ability to legally work in the U.S.,” Tim Jones, immigration attorney, said. “And they’re gonna have the fear of ICE showing up at their homes. They’re, wherever, and arresting them. So yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty significant impact on these kids who have grown up in the U.S.”
But going back to Mexico, where his family is from, isn’t an option.
“The way that they tell us things are down there, because we are from a border city, there’s a lot of violence,” he said. “There’s a lot of shootings going on. The war on drugs is a very real war. And people are dying. And I don’t want to go back there because I don’t even know any of my family. I haven’t seen them in years.”
Many wonder, why not just apply for citizenship?
“Unfortunately, many people do say, why don’t you get in line and become a citizen?” he said. “There is no line to get behind. I could apply through someone in my family, however, it would take 25 years. And they first have to become U.S. citizens. Which they’re not.”
With just a few months left of his DACA status, and his future uncertain, he hopes to make the most of what he can.
“I haven’t thought about what my plans are going to be,” he said. “However, I know that I’m going to continue to work. I will look for work wherever I can.”
The DACA program expires March 5. If you are currently enrolled, you will not be able to renew. Which means, starting March 6, people who have been on DACA will be falling off. According to Jones, they won’t have work permits and that means they won’t have nay protection from being deported.
