4 Dreamers Remember the Moment They Learned They Were Undocumented

Like many Dreamers, Velarde found out he was undocumented as a teen when he tried to land his first job.

"Realizing the reality of being an undocumented immigrant was an overwhelming experience," he told POPSUGAR. "When I was 16, trying to get a job was near impossible, so I had to resort to working in flea markets and one-day jobs. How was I supposed to prosper in the so-called 'land of opportunity' when there were so many barriers and I lacked the 'right' to work?"

Velarde did find work, thanks to DACA, and is currently working on obtaining a broker's license.