Letter From the Editor: Revisiting DACA 10 Years Later

Every year, thousands of undocumented immigrants migrate to the United States in search of a better life and opportunities they weren't granted in their home countries. Many families immigrate with their young children who eventually grow up to call the United States home. But unlike children born in the US, they aren't granted the same rights and protections.

On June 15, 2012, former President Barack Obama announced the establishment of the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, giving eligible undocumented immigrants the right to legally work and study in the States and providing protection from potential deportation. More than 800,000 DACA recipients — often referred to as Dreamers — have benefited from DACA. But unfortunately, it doesn't necessarily offer a pathway to legal citizenship and permanent residency.

Despite that, Dreamers are just as American as the rest of us. In fact, many hardly remember their native countries. They deserve the permanent solutions and expanded protections they have waited for for years. The Trump administration's efforts to end DACA may not have been successful, but immigrants — including those who don't even qualify for DACA — deserve a way to stay permanently.

On the 10th anniversary of DACA, POPSUGAR in partnership with United We Dream, presents Diez Años Despues, the untold stories of four Dreamers who continue to face the challenges that come with being young undocumented immigrants living in the States 10 years after DACA and are still worried about their fates. From a young mom with the fear of being deported and separated from her children to the challenges one Mexicana has had to face being Latinx, undocumented, and queer, here are some of the stories of what immigration looks like for many Latinxs who migrate to this country and deserve the American dream just as much as the rest of us — regardless of where they were born.

Sincerely,

Johanna Ferreira, content director of POPSUGAR Latina