DREAMers were once protected from deportation under President Obama. Under Donald Trump, not so much. And apparently the press wants us to be bothered by this…
Under the program, those with clean criminal records who were going to school or graduated could submit an application to the federal government. If approved by the Department of Homeland Security, the immigrants were protected from deportation for two years and could receive a work permit. They could also re-apply to extend their DACA status for an additional two years.
More than 750,000 people were approved for the program and the vast majority were granted a renewal.
DACA was not, however, an absolute guarantee. If an enrollee was convicted of a felony, a “significant misdemeanor” or three other misdemeanors, their protected status could be revoked. That happened to 1,488 people under Obama and Trump combined.
Under Obama, 507 were allowed to stay in the country vs. the 365 deported. Some were released on bond, some were kept under supervision and others were freed. Under Trump, 20 were allowed to remain in the U.S. compared to the 43 who were deported.
It all goes back to something John Lennon told me at a coffeehouse in The Village once…
You may say that I’m a DREAMer,
But I’m not the only one.
Hang on, there’s someone at the door.
My journey back to Mexico has just begun.
Seriously though, here’s the kicker…
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for lower levels of immigration, said that increase in deportations shows how federal immigration officers feel more comfortable pursuing deportations under Trump than Obama.
Liberal fluff feelings aside, DREAMers are still here illegally (see DREAMer Protests Trump’s Immigration Enforcement, Gets Arrested and Rick Santorum Schools DREAMer, Triggers Delicious Liberal Meltdown…). They may not have made that choice, it’s likely their parents made them illegal by being illegals themselves, but too bad so sad, amigo. It isn’t the responsibility of the United States to take care of and fund people who should’ve never been allowed into the country. That little law extends to their hijos and hijas.
I would say “our hearts break,” but mine doesn’t. Sure, it’s unfortunate that kids who made their home here have to be shipped back to a country they’re not familiar with (even though they broke the law by being here and then committing more crimes). But don’t fall into the trap of blaming America for it. The blame lies solely with their parents for breaking the law in the first place. Obama granted them a reprieve by ignoring their law-breakage (maybe even excusing it), but the families of these DREAMers are the ones who broke the law. Blame them, not America’s legal system.
