DACAmented youth fast in support of DREAM Act
By Kok-Leong Seow
It has been more than three months since Donald Trump announced an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Ninety-two days, to be more specific.
Each passing day increases the anxiety and intensity for me and 800,000 other young people who have been able to live their lives, go to school, work and contribute to their communities thanks to the Obama-era protection from deportation for undocumented youth.
Trump ended the protected status for those of us who receive DACA and gave Congress an artificial deadline of March 5 next year to come up with a legislative solution.
Now young immigrants, advocates and both Democrats and Republicans are pushing for just such a solution before the end of the year. There is a large bipartisan support for young undocumented immigrants raised in this country and who are Americans in every respect, except for paperwork.
This push to find a solution reaches a zenith this week in Washington, D.C. as caravans of young undocumented immigrants and supporters plan to descend on Capitol Hill with sit-ins and rallies. The business community is among those allies, who will push out ads from political leaders and legislators in support of DACA.
Coordinated rallies are taking place in major cities across the nation. Many of us see this as a crucial moment to make a stance and push for reform to protect the program and us from deportation.
I want to be in Washington, D.C., but I can’t. DACA is very personal to me. I need it to go to school, obtain a driver’s license and travel. Until the federal government approves my DACA status, I’m stuck in the city where I live.
Thankfully, we can all help even if we are not in D.C. We can take action by calling, tweeting and mailing our local representatives to stand with undocumented immigrants and call for a clean DREAM Act that would provide a pathway to citizenship. Most importantly, we can help spread the truth about undocumented immigrants. We are hardworking people. We are your neighbors, your fellow church parishioners, your classmates and your co-workers.
We need a solution that help us remain in our communities. Otherwise, we could see mass deportations, raids and larger detention camps. If a solution isn’t passed, starting March 5, Dreamers by the thousands will be deported every week. As it is 122 people lose their DACA status every day.
Every day that passes, the number of Dreamers in the country slowly dwindles. One by one, people will lose their jobs. One by one, someone will lose their sister, brother, or mother. One by one, someone’s life will be ruined.
I came with my family from Malaysia when I was a young child. I hardly remember it. America has been my home for 17 years. It’s the only home I know. I’ve built a life here, in America. I’ve become family with the people here, in America. I care about the people here, in America. I’ve worked tirelessly to make a difference here, in America. A piece of paper won’t make me any more American than I already am, but it will give me a chance to contribute to my home here, in America.
The moment may seem dark, but we are DREAMers. We choose to be stoic and optimistic. We trust in America. We trust that the American people will stand with us and do what they know in their hearts is the right thing to do. We have a chance to change the course of history. Let’s not let any more days pass by.
Kok-Leong Seow is a communications fellow for the Center for Community Change.