Immigration: DACA

Azzall Monasser, Ashwag Mokbel, Jameel Thomas, David Valderrabano, Scarlett Ramirez

Dussault, Susan B. “Who Needs Daca or the Dream Act? How the Ordinary Use of Executive Discretion Can Help (Some) Childhood Arrivals Become Citizens.” Lewis & Clark Law Review, vol. 22, no. 2, June 2018, pp. 441–499. EBSCOhost, citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?drect=true&db=a9h&AN=132213468&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Dussault gives an overview over the issues with DACA, the article explains why president Obama had to create this program. The article revolves around three main points that explain in depth several aspects of DACA. The first point is what circumstances that led to the US to have 2.2 million young immigrants that were brought into the united states as a child. The second point identifies two paths that the presidency can take to legalize some of these undocumented young immigrants. The last point acknowledges that even if these paths were put into action it would still leave too many of these young immigrants without any protection.

Keyes, Elizabeth. “Defining American: the DREAM Act, Immigration Reform and Citizenship.” Nevada Law Journal, vol. 14, no. 1, 2013, pp. 101–155.

The book “Defining American: the DREAM Act, Immigration Reform and Citizenship” written by Elizabeth Keyes, it discusses all the aspects that regards to DACA, Immigration reforms, and citizenship. In order to obtain a citizenship in the twentieth century, a course of measures also identified as the pipeline of immigration must be followed. “Since it was first proposed in 2000, the DREAM Act has laid out the same basic structure, providing both protection from deportation and a path to citizenship for certain immigrant youth.” This line extracted from the book demonstrates how this act benefited the immigrant youth in protection and the continuation of pursuing a better life. The requirements remain listed for qualification for applications. The person must be a U.S. residence exceeding five years before the enactment of the law, as well as being under the age of sixteen to qualify. However, many don’t know that the DREAMER act will not be authorized to anyone just because he/she lived in the U.S for five years and is under the age of sixteen when entering. The time in the U.S is measured by the way family, friends, as well as community leaders, speak regarding leadership skills, family ties, worth ethics and volunteer work is given back to the community. Although the DREAMers have been limited in today’s society, DACA gives them a chance to expand the course of living and break the barriers of the ideal citizen.

Martinez, Lisa M. “Dreams Deferred: The Impact of Legal Reforms on Undocumented Latino Youth.” American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 58, no. 14, Dec. 2014, pp. 1873–1890, doi:10.1177/0002764214550289.

“Dreams Deferred;The Impact of Legal Reforms on Undocumented Latino Youth” by Lisa M.Martinez,talks about the benefits of DACA since it was enacted in August of 2012. Thousands of undocumented latino youth apply for DACA every year, with the hope to access a better education. However,the most important fact about this application process if that many have gotten approved  for the U.S. citizenship and immigration services.Many of the approved applicants were born in Mexico,are under age and most of them have been living in the U.S for more than 10 years.This are the benefits that changes these childrens life and perspectives. The importance of been accepted by DACA, affects all applicants in many great ways. This opens up new, and versatile opportunities for Dreamers seaking for a better quality of life. It allows Dreamers  to have access to a decent job,a higher education along with ASSET,which allows undocumented students to pay lower tuitions in the state’s public colleges. There are benefits and advantages from DACA that all Dreamers should be able to access without been denied. These courageous  and outstanding students, should be considered part of this country, since all legal forms, and decisions made by political profiles, affects them dramatically. Daca gives undocumented students, the opportunity to accomplish the “American Dream.”

Mitchell, Corey. “DACA Ruling Could Open Door for Immigrants in High School.” Education Week, vol. 37, no. 29, 2018, p.4.

This article centers primarily around the ruling by a federal judge on March 5th 2018 a date that president trump set a deadline for the ruling that would grant students in High Schools the access to stay in the country. The Migration Institute Program estimated that over 120,000 immigrant children would be eligible for DACA over the next 4 years. The judge at the end of his ruling gave the imposed a 90 day delay on his ruling to reargue a case against him granting the ruling to let the High Schoolers stay in the country.

Perez, William. “Higher Education Access for Undocumented Students: Recommendations for Counseling Professionals.” Journal of College Admission 206 (2010): 32-35.

“Higher Education Access for Undocumented Students” article, provides research done by William Perez and many other experts about the topic. This compilation of opinions  and research, are to inform the reader and provide advice and recommendations for professionals dealing with DACA students. The goal is to educate and counsel professionals about the importance of DACA in the U.S, and the high percentage of undocumented students with the courage of been able to have a better quality of life and education. Believe it or not, undocumented students represent an important student population, and it has been a long journey for them, to be able to have the right  to access public education. William Perez mentions that before 1982, illegal students were not able to attend a public school. It was not until the Supreme Court Case of Plyer V. Doe 1982, that provided undocumented children the right to attend a public school and education. Even though the Dreamers are achievers, and have been fighting for so long, they have very limited time to work after they graduate and cannot apply for citizenship when applying for DACA. Dreamers are in a constant struggle,proving this country their outstanding academic efforts and that they belong to this country,when in reality they shouldn’t be proving no one but, themselves.They are capable of overcoming any obstacle,and   that makes them deserve the right to be accepted by this society, and as part of this country. Despite of all of this, they still remain in darkness with such a few benefits and a lot to more challenges to overcome.

Swan, Richelle S., and Marisol Clark-Ibáñez. “Perceptions of Shifting Legal Ground: Daca and the Legal Consciousness of Undocumented Students and Graduates.” Thomas Jefferson Law Review, vol. 39, no. 2, Spring 2017, pp. 67–92. EBSCOhost, citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=124293169&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

This article talks about the legal consciousness of undocumented young immigrants that were brought into the United states as children. One of the main points is Swan talks about is the idea of how school shield students from the reality of their legal status. The article explains how of these children do not realize the limitations that an undocumented immigrant has until it’s time to go to college or they try to get a job or need to use a social security. The article then touches on how the introduction of DACA changes the legal consciousness of these young immigrant.

U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services issuing body. General Information : How Do I Request Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)? 2014.

This toolkit provides various resources that explain the concept of DACA, the process, and renewal of DACA. The renewal of DACA has guidelines that consist of regulations that are followed.  To request consideration of DACA, the Form I-82, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to USCIS along with the Form I-765 application ( for employment authorization). These two applications must be submitted and signed correctly along with the filing fees of $465. People who are immigrants must read the form questions and answer appropriately if not this can lead to a revision at an immigration court where the next step could be deportation. The toolkit provides charts displaying examples of documents submitted that meet the guidelines. This will eliminate mistakes within the applying process as well as a better understanding of how to apply with precision.  There is minimal assistance during applying. However, this toolkit trains the applicant step by step to reduce the difficulty regarding messing up.

Venkataramani, Atheendar S., and Alexander C. Tsai. “Dreams Deferred — The Public Health Consequences of Rescinding DACA.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol.377, no.18, Feb. 2017, pp. 1707–1709., doi:10.1056/nejmp1711416.

“Dreams Deferred – The Public Health Consequences of Rescinding DACA,” by Atheendar Venkataramani and Alexander Tsai describes the effects of Trump’s decision to rescind DACA on the immigrants and dreamers. After President Obama provided freedom of deportation and access to work permits for 800,000 people who benefited from DACA, Trump wants to take that away and deport the productive young workers who have lived most of their lives in the U.S. This decision has an effect on these young dreamers. According to the article, “A study showed that rates of moderate or severe psychological distress in the DACA-eligible group fell by nearly 40% relative to rates in the DACA-ineligible group after DACA’s passage.” Similarly, studies have revealed remarkable improvements in psychological well-being after the program’s implementation. Rescinding DACA will have effects on public mental health and organizations should reach out to the people to ensure that they do not bear the burden of mental distress alone.

Wides-Muñoz, Laura. The Making of a Dream : How a Group of Young Undocumented Immigrants Helped Change What It Means to Be American. First ed., 2018.

The making of a Dream: How a group of young undocumented immigrants helped change what it means to be American by Laura wides-muñoz, is about young dreamers who were brought here at a young age and went to local schools with native Americans and work jobs alongside Americans that contributed to the economy of the country. Some even apply to attend universities only to find out at that point that they were not legal Americans. This book shows the struggle that the dreamers face in a country that is divided on the topic whether a dreamer should stay or be deported. It also shows the ground breaking DACA order that was past in 2012 by the Obama administration, and the sudden stoppage of DACA under the Trump administration. Making of a Dream show you the social movement that is taking place with both the failures and successes being documented.

Zatz, Marjorie S., and Nancy Rodriguez. Dreams and Nightmares: Immigration Policy, Youth, and Families, University of California Press, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/citytech-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1882101

“Dreams and Nightmares” is a book written by Marjorie Zatz and Nancy Rodriguez. In this book, the authors acknowledge immigration, DACA, and families and children that are affected by their policies and practices. The authors analyze the importance of developing DACA and to expand it into a broader program. They also examine different families that are affected by immigration policies or DACA ban, and the families have different statuses, such as legal residents, citizens, or undocumented; however, they are all affected by deportation as it ruins and tears families apart, even though some of the family members are citizens. The book also encourages the community to act by raising their voices and standing up for these families being deported and having their dreams taken away. People must come together as a community and work with the dreamers, and help the families that are being torn apart because of the president and immigration policies.