Monarch butterflies, passionate activists, and “We’re here to stay” signs have all become emblematic of marches and protests calling on presidential administrations to defend DACA recipients from deportation during the past 12 years. Saturday marks the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was established by the Obama administration in 2012. Greisa Martinez Rosas, director of United We Dream, recalls feeling powerful and humbled upon receiving news of DACA’s announcement in 2012. She crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a child and later worked as a community organizer, gathering support to protect Dreamers from deportation.
Rosas, like many other DACA recipients, initially feared giving her personal information for DACA application due to concerns about her undocumented mother being deported. However, upon receiving her work permit, Rosas was able to leave her job selling cars to become a full-time advocate with United We Dream. Together with fellow Dreamer Astrid Silva, who also became a face of the DACA movement as a community organizer, they have been advocating for legal protections for DACA recipients. Silva, who crossed the border with her parents at a young age, emphasizes the importance of not taking their status for granted and calls for a permanent fix for DACA recipients.
Immigration is a top issue for voters leading up to the November election, with both Republicans and Democrats campaigning on their proposed policies regarding undocumented immigrants and the future of DACA. President Biden recently issued an executive order limiting asylum claims for undocumented immigrants along the southern border and is preparing an immigration relief program to provide work permits and deportation protections to unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The Biden administration is also working on streamlining the process for Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants to obtain temporary visas.
Ahead of DACA’s 12th anniversary, the Biden-Harris campaign released ads highlighting their commitment to protecting Dreamers and contrasting their immigration policies with those of former President Trump. Trump, who announced the termination of DACA in 2017, has promised to begin mass deportations if reelected, with proposals for mass deportation receiving bipartisan support among registered voters. A majority of voters favor the idea of deporting all undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and having local law enforcement identify those individuals.
The ongoing legal fight surrounding DACA has left over 500,000 DACA recipients in a state of uncertainty about their future in the United States. Dreamers like Rosas and Silva continue to organize their communities and advocate for legal protections, despite the challenges they face. In the midst of changing immigration policies and proposals, the DACA program remains a focal point in the conversation about the rights and future of undocumented immigrants. Activists and organizers like Rosas and Silva are committed to fighting for the rights of DACA recipients and ensuring that they are not forgotten or left behind in the current political landscape.
