August 15, 2014 marked the two-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — the program, not a law—which was President Obama’s executive order surprise just before his re-election in 2012. Many Dreamers felt that all their hard work at coming out and protesting as well as explaining their story publicly in person and multiple media outlets swayed the President to implement DACA. But, how much of this decision was actually to gain the vote to get re-elected? After all, the cost of DACA made money for the government.
DACA opened up a temporary two-year opportunity to some unauthorized immigrants under 30 years of age, who meet specific conditions and pay applicable fees. Approved Dreamers work permits and protection against deportation, but renewal to obtain another two-year temporary authorization is required. Applicants had to report all personal information or risk not being approved. At first, the number of applicants was low, but as news of approvals became known, the pace picked up. Reported applications up to March 2014 numbered 673,417, of which 553,197 (78%) was reported as the number that was finally approved; 120,220 (almost 22%) applications were denied. According to estimates, up to 1.9 million people could potentially be eligible for DACA.
Applicants paid $465.00 per application but also paid up to thousands of dollars for attorneys or immigration consultant fees to do the job right. Dreamers themselves became trained to help others to encourage the step of applying.
Currently if a Dreamer has been on DACA for almost two years, he/she must reapply within a certain date or risk non-renewal and possibly loss of their jobs. These young people are beginning to reapply and must pay another $465.00! Changes and confusion on the renewal application mean it may be necessary to pay the fees of another consultant or attorney. (See table.)
Data regarding the ages of applicants is not yet publically available. But some have been here since they were babies and don’t even know or haven’t visited their native places of birth. In many cases more than one family member is eligible to apply but cannot afford to pay.
President Obama has the power to extend the deferred action to the 11 million, but is not doing it. Fellow Democrats are telling him he should hold off on any changes until after the November elections for fear of losing re-election to Republicans. Republicans are saying they will sue the President if he takes these steps, and they will continue actions to repeal DACA altogether. Here we go again — the politicians are using the issue of immigration and playing with the lives of millions for their own political convenience.
The undocumented are shut out for the American Dream. Prospects of a permanent solution in the form of legalization and immigration reform for all are dim. The undocumented are also finding that U.S. citizens are not getting heard, nor are their needs being met. The real political need to make these changes will fall on the more conscious elements of the dispossessed, the revolutionary leaders regardless of whether they are documented or not.
