DACA is an abbreviation for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is a program that has been in place for about seven years but is now being terminated. It was initiated by President Obama in June 2012. It allows individuals who entered the United States prior to their 16th birthday to register to remain in the country, provided they pay a fee and meet certain requirements related to their education.

Donald Trump stated on Friday, September 1st, he plans to make a decision on the DACA policy, which temporarily protects some undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as minors, either “today or over the weekend”. Trump has made a decision to end DACA with a six-month delay. Under the plan, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Trump administration will stop considering new applications for legal status dated after Tuesday, September 5th, 2017. They will still allow any DACA recipients with a permit set to expire on March 5th, 2018. It will give them an opportunity to apply for a two-year renewal. “In effect,” the President said, “I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act.”

In the five years since DACA was enacted, the nearly 800,000 individuals who received the protection have started families, pursued careers, and studied in schools and universities across the nation. There are many opinions about the whole program; there are going to be people saying how it should either be removed because some consider it an improper way to immigrate, or continued because it will affect many families and what they do for this country.

Trump is terminating DACA because many born in the US are saying that they feel their jobs are being usurped by illegals. “It’s very infuriating because [Trump] says it’s to protect Americans, but it isn’t. He’s taking away a program that benefits Americans. They don’t know their native land, technically this is their native land. They were brought here when they were younger and this is their home.”  Pricilla Perez. Luis Garcia is also mad about the change explaining,  “A lot of people have had no work, people pay taxes, and they all work for it.”

There is a sixth month delay on the policy change, meaning Congress has a chance to save DACA. Those protected under DACA have until October 5th to renew their permit so they would be able to stay in the US for two more years. After that if they are not a legal citizen by the time their permit expires they will be deported.

“It wasn’t well thought out and was mainly out of racism and hatred, not for protection. As we’ve seen, there have been a lot of DREAMers protesting,” Perez continues, “It’s something very emotional to talk about but most of their fear is deportation. Their parents have worked hard and they’ve worked hard. It’s hard to think that they will be deported to somewhere they don’t know.”  Garcia believes that the change may cause fear for DREAMers, “They’re going to be scared to come back. They had opportunity and it’s being taken away.”

Trump promised to get rid of DACA during the campaign, so even if he changes his mind he still has to end the program. His hand is also being forced by Americans who feel their jobs are being stolen by the people under DACA. Many people, if they were in Trump’s position, would not terminate the program. Perez elaborates, “Honestly as a person of color I’d keep it. From his viewpoint I don’t see the benefit of taking it away and I’m trying to be unbiased but it’s hard. The kids have been here, have worked, and they’ve been a part of the melting pot. We thrive off of being diverse. From his perspective, it’s not beneficial to take away. From my point of view I would keep it, it’s not fair to rip away the benefits of children or those escaping poverty.” Garcia agrees by saying, “I’d keep it. It’s not fair to the children and people under the program to be sent away, when it’s most likely not their fault they’re here in the first place.”