Minimal DACA Changes Under the Trump Administration

Many people feared that the Trump administration was going to eliminate DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) once in office. In fact, President Trump vowed to end the DACA program immediately upon his arrival in office, which is within his executive authority. New information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revealed that the administration reinstated work permits for 107,000 DACA beneficiaries and 17,000 DACA applicants were granted approval by the administration.

The Obama administration created DACA to assist immigrants who came to the United States as children. Under the program, more than 750,000 “dreamers” benefit from two-year periods of deferred action from deportation and are eligible for work permits. During these two-year periods, dreamers have the time to create paths to citizenship, which is why the program is considered a necessity for immigrant communities in the United States. A high percentage of young people immigrate to the United States as a result of their parents’ decisions. Sometimes these individuals do not discover that they are undocumented until they turn eighteen and are ready to attend colleges and universities. They have already become a part of the American culture, and this reality underscores the value brought by DACA for the 1.7 million people who could benefit from the program.

It seems clear that the Trump administration wants to focus on undocumented immigrants who have criminal histories in the United States. Some evidence supports the contrary given that non-criminal arrests rose during his initial days in office. However, in April, Trump stated that he and his administration “are not after the dreamers.” In fact, considering his heavy focus on illegal border crossings, it may be safe to assume that the Trump administration will continue to focus on undocumented immigrants who pose a threat to American communities due to their criminal records.

Dreamers should look at the continuance of DACA as an opportunity to obtain citizenship. Indeed, this is a success for thousands of immigrants who came to the United States as children. With identities ingrained in the American culture, it seems difficult to imagine that at one point, these undocumented immigrants may have faced deportation. With the continuance of DACA, US citizenship may be granted to thousands of individuals who have established homes and lives in the United States.

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Sources:

1. Nakamura, David. "Trump administration grants work permits to thousands of illegal immigrants." The Washington Post. WP Company, 12 June 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.

2. Williamson, Kevin D. "Trump's Executive Amnesty." National Review. N.p., 13 June 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.