Passage of the Dream Act is a necessary step. But it must be just the first of many. (Photo: Shutterstock)
All Undocumented Americans Deserve a Pathway to Citizenship
Years of advocacy have made DACA the floor of what’s possible, not the ceiling.
My father's tired eyes lit up in a way that I had not seen since my sister was born. "Esto nos podria cambiar la vida," he said. "This could change our lives."
This was his hopeful reaction to the Biden-Harris administration's proposal of legislation that would create a path to citizenship for immigrants like him.
He is exactly right--it could change our lives. But only if we keep the new administration accountable so that it actually does.
My family and community have lived in the shadows for decades, and I have never felt closer to basking in the sun. But too often, politicians have exploited our hopes for votes, only to backtrack. For these promises to become a reality for my father, mother, and all 11 million undocumented Americans living in the United States, we must continue to push past the status quo.
The early signs, at least, are promising.
On day one of his administration, President Biden signed an executive order announcing his commitment to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which survived years of attack from the Trump administration. DACA temporarily protects undocumented people like me, most of whom immigrated to the U.S. as young children, from deportation.
Our families deserved this moment of relief.
President Biden's pledge to preserve DACA is a welcome one, not only for the immediate positive impact it has on the lives of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and our families, but also because it sets a refreshing change of pace for what's to come.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
By supporting the preservation of DACA at the outset, the Biden-Harris administration has confirmed that DACA is the floor--and not the ceiling--of what's possible. It's a commitment to go beyond the parameters of past efforts, moving away from temporary fixes and toward permanent relief for all.
In another encouraging sign, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently reintroduced the Dream Act, which would offer a pathway to citizenship for over 2 million eligible undocumented people, including DACA recipients. It would also include Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders seeking safety from life-threatening conditions in their countries of origin.
Passage of the Dream Act is a necessary step. But it must be just the first of many.
President Biden has encouraged Congress to pass legislation that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for all undocumented people in the United States and place DACA recipients, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers on an expedited path to citizenship.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
In the coming weeks and months, we have a chance to bring safety and opportunity to all 11 million undocumented immigrants and our families in the United States. While the Dream Act is indeed an important step in ensuring millions of undocumented youth no longer have to live with uncertainty, it would still leave Dreamers like me worrying about the ever-present fear of separation from our loved ones who don't benefit from the temporary security that DACA provides.
Legalization efforts must be inclusive not just of DACA recipients, but also of our children, families, and communities--who, like mine, all call this country home.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
My father's tired eyes lit up in a way that I had not seen since my sister was born. "Esto nos podria cambiar la vida," he said. "This could change our lives."
This was his hopeful reaction to the Biden-Harris administration's proposal of legislation that would create a path to citizenship for immigrants like him.
He is exactly right--it could change our lives. But only if we keep the new administration accountable so that it actually does.
My family and community have lived in the shadows for decades, and I have never felt closer to basking in the sun. But too often, politicians have exploited our hopes for votes, only to backtrack. For these promises to become a reality for my father, mother, and all 11 million undocumented Americans living in the United States, we must continue to push past the status quo.
The early signs, at least, are promising.
On day one of his administration, President Biden signed an executive order announcing his commitment to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which survived years of attack from the Trump administration. DACA temporarily protects undocumented people like me, most of whom immigrated to the U.S. as young children, from deportation.
Our families deserved this moment of relief.
President Biden's pledge to preserve DACA is a welcome one, not only for the immediate positive impact it has on the lives of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and our families, but also because it sets a refreshing change of pace for what's to come.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
By supporting the preservation of DACA at the outset, the Biden-Harris administration has confirmed that DACA is the floor--and not the ceiling--of what's possible. It's a commitment to go beyond the parameters of past efforts, moving away from temporary fixes and toward permanent relief for all.
In another encouraging sign, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently reintroduced the Dream Act, which would offer a pathway to citizenship for over 2 million eligible undocumented people, including DACA recipients. It would also include Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders seeking safety from life-threatening conditions in their countries of origin.
Passage of the Dream Act is a necessary step. But it must be just the first of many.
President Biden has encouraged Congress to pass legislation that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for all undocumented people in the United States and place DACA recipients, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers on an expedited path to citizenship.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
In the coming weeks and months, we have a chance to bring safety and opportunity to all 11 million undocumented immigrants and our families in the United States. While the Dream Act is indeed an important step in ensuring millions of undocumented youth no longer have to live with uncertainty, it would still leave Dreamers like me worrying about the ever-present fear of separation from our loved ones who don't benefit from the temporary security that DACA provides.
Legalization efforts must be inclusive not just of DACA recipients, but also of our children, families, and communities--who, like mine, all call this country home.
My father's tired eyes lit up in a way that I had not seen since my sister was born. "Esto nos podria cambiar la vida," he said. "This could change our lives."
This was his hopeful reaction to the Biden-Harris administration's proposal of legislation that would create a path to citizenship for immigrants like him.
He is exactly right--it could change our lives. But only if we keep the new administration accountable so that it actually does.
My family and community have lived in the shadows for decades, and I have never felt closer to basking in the sun. But too often, politicians have exploited our hopes for votes, only to backtrack. For these promises to become a reality for my father, mother, and all 11 million undocumented Americans living in the United States, we must continue to push past the status quo.
The early signs, at least, are promising.
On day one of his administration, President Biden signed an executive order announcing his commitment to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which survived years of attack from the Trump administration. DACA temporarily protects undocumented people like me, most of whom immigrated to the U.S. as young children, from deportation.
Our families deserved this moment of relief.
President Biden's pledge to preserve DACA is a welcome one, not only for the immediate positive impact it has on the lives of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and our families, but also because it sets a refreshing change of pace for what's to come.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
By supporting the preservation of DACA at the outset, the Biden-Harris administration has confirmed that DACA is the floor--and not the ceiling--of what's possible. It's a commitment to go beyond the parameters of past efforts, moving away from temporary fixes and toward permanent relief for all.
In another encouraging sign, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently reintroduced the Dream Act, which would offer a pathway to citizenship for over 2 million eligible undocumented people, including DACA recipients. It would also include Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders seeking safety from life-threatening conditions in their countries of origin.
Passage of the Dream Act is a necessary step. But it must be just the first of many.
President Biden has encouraged Congress to pass legislation that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for all undocumented people in the United States and place DACA recipients, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers on an expedited path to citizenship.
The immediate action we're seeing from this administration on immigration is no fluke. It's the result of advocacy, tenacity, and resilience by many Black and brown advocates who have consistently refused to accept the status quo.
In the coming weeks and months, we have a chance to bring safety and opportunity to all 11 million undocumented immigrants and our families in the United States. While the Dream Act is indeed an important step in ensuring millions of undocumented youth no longer have to live with uncertainty, it would still leave Dreamers like me worrying about the ever-present fear of separation from our loved ones who don't benefit from the temporary security that DACA provides.
Legalization efforts must be inclusive not just of DACA recipients, but also of our children, families, and communities--who, like mine, all call this country home.