On September 5th, the Trump Administration called for the termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This Obama-era immigration policy protects child immigrants from deportation from being born in the United States or being brought here at a young age: the choice of their parents, not their own. DACA prevents children from being deported to a place that is not truly their home.

Since this announcement, the nearly 800,000 people who took advantage of DACA’s protection have been living with the uncertainty of their future’s in America; they fear leaving the only country they have ever known. Those registered for DACA are often called DREAMers, referencing the failed DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act of 2001. It is important to note that DREAMers are not legal citizens, however they are able to attend school and work in America. These people are allowed to enlist in the armed forces, fight for our country, and are now at risk of being deported.

Shortly after Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the announcement, Barack Obama posted his reaction on Facebook, notably saying,

“To target these young people is wrong – because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating – because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel. What if our kid’s science teacher, or our friendly neighbor turns out to be a Dreamer? Where are we supposed to send her? To a country she doesn’t know or remember, with a language she may not even speak?”

Since the memorandum on rescission, no formal executive order or legislation has been passed to officially end DACA. Donald Trump stated that it was up to Congress to find a solution to the issue and if one is not found in six months, he will revisit it.

On Sunday October 8, over a month after the original announcement, the White House released a list of immigration priorities that it requests be staples of any congressional bills passed on the matter. The list includes funding of the infamous border wall, making stricter standards for asylum protection, blocking funds from sanctuary cities, Increasing ICE staff, and limit merit-based immigration.

These strict reforms will increase the difficulty of passing legislation on either side of Congress due to partisanship.

Unfortunately for the DREAMers, their lives in the United States, which were previously protected by DACA, have been jeopardized and only time will tell what their future holds.

“What makes us American is not a question of what we look like, or where our names come from, or the way we pray. What makes us American is our fidelity to a set of ideals – that all of us are created equal; that all of us deserve the chance to make of our lives what we will; that all of us share an obligation to stand up, speak out, and secure our most cherished values for the next generation. That’s how America has traveled this far. That’s how, if we keep at it, we will ultimately reach that more perfect union.” -Barack Obama’s September 5th Facebook post in response to DACA announcement