Trying to keep up with the 'Dreamers' debate? Here are 6 essential reads
- Written by Danielle Douez, Associate Editor, Politics + Society
The future remains uncertain for a group of young people who were brought to the U.S. as children without legal authorization.
Some of these so-called “Dreamers” were temporarily shielded from deportation through an Obama-era program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. In 2017, President Donald Trump announced he would[1] rescind DACA and tasked Congress with finding a durable solution before March 5, 2018. However, lawsuits were filed against Trump’s attempt to end DACA and two federal courts[2] have ruled to reinstate[3] the program until the cases are resolved.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is holding up his end of a bargain[4] to end a January government shutdown led by Democrats, in an effort to spur action on Dreamers. As promised, the Senate is now holding an open debate on immigration.
Here is a roundup of archival stories to help you follow along.
1. DACA’s terms and conditions
DACA came with a long list of terms and conditions. For example, to apply you had to be a certain age and meet certain educational requirements.
Immigration scholar Kevin Johnson[5] of the University of California, Davis, points out, DACA offered protection for only about 1.8 million of the estimated 3.6 million people who were brought to the U.S. as children. Of those 1.8 million who were eligible, only about 800,000 actually applied and received protection through DACA[6].
2. DACA doesn’t cover unaccompanied minors
It’s important to point out that DACA also does not apply to “unaccompanied minors.” You may have heard the term used especially in 2014, when unprecedented numbers of children traveling alone were arriving at the U.S. border with Mexico. Generally, these case are handled under a different set of laws and policies.
Stephanie Canizales[7], a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California, Dornsife, has spent time doing in-depth interviews and observational research on this group of migrants, who face a separate set of issues around labor exploitation[8].
Canizales writes, “Undocumented working youth migrate to Los Angeles in hopes of working to support their families who remain in their home countries. … Much like with their adult coworkers, economic necessity and fear of removal from the workplace and the country keep undocumented migrant youth workers quiet in cases of exploitation, and docile and efficient on the job.”
3. DACA improves mental health
There is research that shows that DACA has improved the mental health of those who received it[9]. Scholars Elizabeth Aranda[10] of the University of Florida, and Elizabeth Vaquera[11] of George Washington University, explain that being an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. carries with it severe mental health consequences. These include problems such as chronic worry, sadness, isolation and even suicidal thoughts.
Although DACA only offers temporary protection, the relief recipients felt was significant. They write, “These youth shared with us that they were more motivated and happy after Obama’s executive order. As Kate, one of our participants, told us, DACA ‘has gone a long way to give me some sense of security and stability that I haven’t had in a very long time.’”
4. Dreamers would boost US economy
DACA critics have suggested that undocumented immigrants negatively impact the U.S. economy because they steal jobs from native-born people. In fact, there is growing evidence that shows how incorporating undocumented immigrants into the workforce actually boosts economic growth. For example, take City University of New York sociologist Amy Hsin[12]‘s study that shows what would happen if the DREAM Act was passed[13].
She found that it would have no significant effect on the wages of U.S.-born workers. It would create more economic opportunities by encouraging legalized immigrants to make education gains. Hsin writes, “Overall, we estimate that the increases in productivity under the DREAM Act would raise the United States GDP by US$15.2 billion and significantly increase tax revenue.”
5. The moral argument for Dreamers
Arguably, at the core of the effort to protect Dreamers is a belief that the U.S. has a tradition of embracing those who arrive at its shores seeking a better life. However, a quick scan of history would reveal that the U.S. has not in fact always been so welcoming. As Carrie Tirado Bramen[14] of the University at Buffalo explains, many writers have described U.S. history as an “ongoing duel between generosity and greed.”
Bramen writes that this issue gets at the core of American identity[15]: “At stake is not only the fate of the Dreamers, but also how the country and the rest of the world understands the idea of America.”
6. Millions still in the shadows
Dreamers are the main impetus for the current debate on immigration. As professor Matthew Wright[16] of American University points out, a victory for Dreamers would be seen as a big “win” for Democrats and some Republicans.
Meanwhile, Trump and immigration hard-liners see it as an opportunity to strike a deal that would also include funding for additional security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Neither side has sought to address the remaining millions of undocumented immigrants[17] who are not Dreamers, and who have created lives and community ties in the U.S. For decades, Congress has stalled on comprehensive immigration reform that would offer undocumented immigrants a path to legal status. Even if Congress passes a Dreamer solution, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants will continue to live in fear of detention, deportation and long-term family separation.
References
- ^ announced he would (www.nytimes.com)
- ^ two federal courts (www.reuters.com)
- ^ have ruled to reinstate (www.washingtonpost.com)
- ^ his end of a bargain (www.politico.com)
- ^ Kevin Johnson (theconversation.com)
- ^ only about 800,000 actually applied and received protection through DACA (theconversation.com)
- ^ Stephanie Canizales (theconversation.com)
- ^ who face a separate set of issues around labor exploitation (theconversation.com)
- ^ has improved the mental health of those who received it (theconversation.com)
- ^ Elizabeth Aranda (theconversation.com)
- ^ Elizabeth Vaquera (theconversation.com)
- ^ Amy Hsin (theconversation.com)
- ^ what would happen if the DREAM Act was passed (theconversation.com)
- ^ Carrie Tirado Bramen (theconversation.com)
- ^ this issue gets at the core of American identity (theconversation.com)
- ^ Matthew Wright (theconversation.com)
- ^ Neither side has sought to address the remaining millions of undocumented immigrants (theconversation.com)
Authors: Danielle Douez, Associate Editor, Politics + Society
