The almost 800,000 Dreamers—undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children—have seen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive action by President Obama from 2012, as their lifeline. Though filled with both political and legal obstacles, the future of the program is very uncertain. Since President Trump took office, his administration has tried to rescind DACA, and court cases regarding the matter have further plunged the Dreamers into a state of limbo.
While President Biden has said that he would create a pathway for citizenship, legislative gridlock, in no small part thanks to Republican opposition, has made it difficult for his administration to do so. It compounds the uncertainty for Dreamers, who continue to be at the mercy of administration policy change or court decision.
The situation at the southern border with migrants seeking asylum continues to snowball, and this puts into the mix of the general argument around immigration. The Biden administration has mixed responses that use technology and partnerships with Central American countries in the effort, but those face scrutiny and debate.
What is urgently needed is comprehensive immigration reform that balances the enforcement of our borders with humane treatment for Dreamers and other immigrants. But the way forward is a sincere approach to these intertwined issues in order to provide stability and protection to those calling the U.S. home.
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