Learn a little more...with a link!
Website Article: Vittana, 15 Pros and Cons of The Dream Act
Website Article & Video: DOGOnews, What President Trump's Decision To Wind Down DACA Means For "DREAMers" | Check out the infographics & video that explain DACA’s impact
Interactive Website: Immigration Stories of Yesterday and Today | Wonder what it was like to immigrate to the U.S. & facts about today’s immigrants?
Read the script:
A FEDERAL DECISION WASN’T SO EASILY MADE REGARDING WHETHER DREAMERS CAN STAY IN THE US OR NOT. DREAMERS IS A TERM BEING USED FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO AMERICA ILLEGALLY AS CHILDREN, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. THEY WERE GRANTED THE ABILITY TO STAY AND WORK HERE THROUGH THE DACA POLICY.
DACA STANDS FOR DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS.
BUT LEGISLATORS, JUDGES AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAVE BEEN DEBATING WHETHER TO KEEP DACA IN PLACE, OR LET IT EXPIRE.
REPORTER SARA SIDNER SPOKE TO BOTH SIDES.
MELODY: "WE ARE AMERICANS BY ALL MEANS EXCEPT ON A PIECE OF PAPER."
SARA: LEFT BEHIND IN GUATEMALA BY HER MOTHER... MELODY CAME TO THE US AT AGE 9…. A YEAR AFTER THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN….
MELODY: "I WAS JUST THINKING BACK OF LIKE THAT 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD SO MANY HOPES AND WHO JUST HUGGED HER MOM FOR THE FIRST TIME."
ITAYU WAS BROUGHT TO THE U-S FROM MEXICO AS A BABY.
ITAYU "I CAME AT SIX MONTHS OLD. I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO WALK OR TALK."
UNDOCUMENTED UNTIL 2015 THEY BOTH BECAME RECIPIENTS OF THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS...
OR DACA WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO WORK AND LIVE IN THE U-S WITHOUT FEAR OF DEPORTATION…
MELODY: "WE FELT LIKE WE ACTUALLY MATTERED. LIKE I COULD ACTUALLY GO GET A LIBRARY CARD. I COULD NOT EVEN DO THAT BEFORE DACA. I COULDN'T EVEN RENT A BOOK FROM THE LA COUNTY LIBRARY."
TWO YEARS LATER WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED IT WAS ENDING THE POLICY... AFFECTING ABOUT 700-THOUSAND DREAMERS.
MELODY: "I REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT 8 AM CLEARLY."
THEN.... CONFUSION... AFTER THIS BI-PARTISAN MEETING… WHERE THE PRESIDENT SEEMED WILLING TO CONSIDER A PATHWAY TO LEGAL STATUS FOR DREAMERS.
THE LATEST CNN POLL SAYS 83 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SUPPORT ALLOWING DREAMERS TO STAY IN THE US...
TRUMP: "THIS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN BILL. IT SHOULD BE A BILL OF LOVE."
BUT SOME CONSERVATIVES.... SAY THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF BEING TOUGH ON ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
THEN HOURS AFTER THIS MEETING…. A FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO SHUT DACA DOWN…
MELODY: "THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN A ROLLERCOASTER AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A ROLLERCOASTER UNTIL ACTUAL LEGISLATION IS PASSED…."
IN THE MEANTIME... ITAYU IS IN COLLEGE.
MELODY GRADUATED EARLY WITH A MASTERS DEGREE FROM USC AND NOW WORKS WITH CHIRLA, AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP.
NOW THEY TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT COMES NEXT.