Friends —
On this day ten years ago, DACA applications were accepted for the first time. Thanks to the relentless organizing of immigrants and allies, millions of undocumented people have been able to receive temporary protections from detention and deportation and work permits under DACA in the decade since.
I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news. But my story as a DACA recipient isn’t the narrative you often hear.
I was a young mom. I was living in a shelter with my kids. I was working odd jobs to support my family. I didn't have a college degree.
There have been many times when I didn't feel worthy compared to the narratives I was hearing about other DACA recipients. While many other people my age were preparing to finish college and start careers, I was trying to survive — and a better life seemed so far out of reach.
I thought that would all change with DACA. I felt like I was finally able to have a "normal" life and get a good-paying job with the work permit DACA provided me. I thought it would allow me more consistency and peace of mind in being able to provide for my children.
But a common misconception about DACA is that it is stable. Every two years, I had to put nearly $500 toward my renewal fees. I had to explain to my kids why I couldn't leave the country to visit family in the Dominican Republic, or why I had lost my job waiting for a work permit DACA provided me.
While DACA did allow me some more consistency and peace of mind, the reality is that it’s temporary. And DACA is still under constant attack by right-wing politicians.
DACA is not enough for our communities, and we need more so that no one has to live with the threat of detention, deportation, and family separation.
DACA is temporary, but I and many others like me are here to stay. Make a donation to United We Dream Action to help us secure permanent protections for millions of undocumented people living in this country.
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We are all deserving of dignity, and we all have rights. Thank you for standing in solidarity with our fight.
Eva, United We Dream Action
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