, this month we mark the 10-year anniversary of the announcement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — the transformational program through which hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth have pursued work and educational goals, better provided for themselves and their loved ones, and contributed more fully to their communities.
Reaching the 10-year milestone is a testament to the power, organizing, and tenacity of immigrant youth who advocated for DACA for years leading up to its implementation and defended it against countless attacks. It is also a time for reflection – DACA, for all its positive impacts, has always only offered temporary protections. The failure to deliver a permanent solution for immigrant youth lies squarely with Congress.
It is a day of many emotions, and it is crucial to hear from the people at the center of the fight. In commemoration of a decade of DACA, we are inviting DACA recipients to share what this milestone means to them, how DACA has changed their lives, and what a pathway to citizenship would do in turn. If you would like to share your story, submit it here >>>
While DACA itself is a hard-fought victory, the reality is that DACA recipients are still planning their lives in two-year increments and bracing themselves for the next court decision that could uproot the futures they are building. And many thousands more people are unable to access the DACA program at all, whether it’s because they are too young or too old to qualify, their applications are blocked in ongoing litigation, they do not have the money to pay the costly filing fees, or for many other reasons. It’s past time for Congress to deliver a permanent solution.
To truly live with certainty and stability, undocumented immigrants need a pathway to citizenship. Until then, we’ll continue our fight.
Sincerely,
Marielena Hincapié
Executive Director
National Immigration Law Center