Much has been said and debated about the so-called “dreamers” — those young people residing in the United States (about 800,000) brought to the U.S. by their parents under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). It allowed some individuals a renewable two-year period of “deferred action from deportation” and to be eligible for a work permit in the U.S.
It was established by the Obama administration in 2012 and rescinded by President Trump. President Obama wanted to expand the program but it was rejected by Homeland Security. But full implementation of the Trump rescission of the policy was delayed six months to allow Congress time to decide how to deal with the situation. The policy allowed this class of illegal immigrants work permits for two years, renewable upon good behavior and to escape deportation.
To apply, this class of illegal immigrants had to be younger than 31 on June 15, 2012 and must have come to the U.S. before 16 years of age and must have lived in the U.S. since 2007. Certain GOP leaders denounced DACA as an “abuse of executive power” by President Obama. This class of illegal immigrants does pay an application fee of $495 and submits several forms and produces documents indicating they meet the policy requirements. Importantly, the DACA does not provide lawful status or a path to U.S. citizenship nor does it provide eligibility for federal welfare or student aid. Almost 75 percent of these individuals were born in Mexico or Central America.
Unfortunately many of this class of Illegal immigrants wants to assume that they are U.S. citizens and should enjoy all the rights of legal citizens, i.e. their feeling seems to be that they are not illegal.
The solution seems rather simple: 1. Deportation of the many individuals is probably not realistic (with the exception of those who have committed major crimes and broken the laws; 2. If they want to become legal U.S. citizens, have them get in line and get on a path of legal citizenship like many before them who have gone through the long-established citizenship process. There are no free lunches and amnesty does not seem to be the right answer to the problem.
Congress, can you not get to work on this issue and make a seemingly simple decision of this important matter?
George Cook
Wilmington
