Dreamers: An Explainer on Immigrant Children in the United States
For many immigrant children living in the United States, their status is uncertain. They are known as Dreamers or DREAM Act recipients, named after legislation that was introduced to provide them with a path to citizenship.
The DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) was first introduced in 2001 as bipartisan legislation aimed at providing legal status for young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US by their parents. However, despite several attempts over two decades to pass this law, it has yet to be implemented.
In 2012, President Barack Obama signed an executive order called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provided temporary relief from deportation and work permits for individuals who were brought to the US before they turned 16 years old and have lived continuously in the country since June 15th of 2007. The DACA program granted these individuals access to education and opportunities that were previously unattainable due to their undocumented status.
However, on September 5th of 2017, President Donald Trump announced his administration’s plan to rescind DACA. This decision left nearly one million Dreamers vulnerable to deportation once again.
One of the main arguments against Dreamers is that they are here illegally and should not be rewarded with citizenship. However, this argument ignores certain realities faced by these children.
Many Dreamers have spent most of their lives in the United States; they grew up attending American schools where English was spoken exclusively; they formed friendships with other American students; celebrated holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas; attended proms; played sports – all while living under constant fear of being deported back home. For many Dreamers, America is all they know – it is where they call home.
Moreover, many Dreamers had no choice but to come here illegally because their parents brought them into the country when they were young. These children had no say in the decision and should not be punished for their parents’ actions.
The DACA program provided Dreamers with a sense of security, allowing them to obtain work permits and driver’s licenses, enroll in college, and pursue opportunities without fear of deportation. This program also gave these individuals the opportunity to come out of the shadows and contribute positively to American society.
Many Dreamers are highly educated; they have graduated from reputable universities or have specialized skills that make them valuable members of their communities. According to a study by the Center for American Progress, DACA recipients have contributed over $42 billion dollars in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) each year since its implementation.
Despite this contribution, many people continue to question whether Dreamers deserve citizenship or legal status in America. Some argue that providing Dreamers with a path to citizenship would encourage more illegal immigration into the United States. However, this argument fails to consider that most immigrants come here legally through various visa programs like employment-based visas or family-based visas.
Additionally, providing Dreamers with a path towards citizenship is not an amnesty policy – it does not excuse their initial entry into the country illegally but instead provides them with an opportunity to earn citizenship through hard work and dedication.
Another argument against legalizing Dreamers is that it would take away jobs from Americans. However, this argument ignores certain economic realities faced by America today.
According to data from 2018 released by the Department of Labor statistics bureau (BLS), there were approximately 7 million job vacancies across various industries throughout America at any given time during that year. Many businesses struggle finding qualified candidates who can fill these positions due to demographic changes like aging populations or low birth rates resulting in increasing demand for workers as well as other factors like skill shortages etcetera which makes hiring foreign-born employees including dreamer essential for maintaining business operations
Furthermore, according to research conducted by economists Giovanni Peri and Kevin Shih, immigrants do not take jobs away from Americans, but rather complement the existing workforce by performing tasks that many Americans are unwilling to do like cleaning houses or working in agriculture.
Moreover, Dreamers have unique skills and abilities that make them valuable members of their communities. Many Dreamers work in industries like healthcare or technology where there is a high demand for skilled labor.
Furthermore, according to research conducted by the National Immigration Forum, providing citizenship to undocumented immigrants would create an additional $1.5 trillion dollars in GDP over the next decade.
In conclusion, Dreamers are individuals who were brought into this country through no fault of their own and should be provided with a path towards citizenship as they contribute positively to American society. These children have grown up here; they speak English fluently and celebrate American culture – America is all they know.
Providing these individuals with legal status would not only benefit them but also benefit America’s economy by creating new jobs and increasing GDP growth. It is time for policymakers to recognize the contributions made by Dreamers and provide them with a pathway towards citizenship so that they can continue contributing positively towards American society while living without fear of deportation.