The Trump administration finally followed through on their campaign promise to crack down on immigration by formally announcing the discontinuation of DACA: the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, on Sept. 5.  

President Trump’s 2016 campaign was famously centered around taking hard action against immigration. However, the discontinuation of DACA does not impede dangerous individuals from coming into the country as they had promised, but it jeopardizes the lives of 800,000 child immigrants who had no choice in coming into the country.

Former President Obama implemented the DACA program with the intent of protecting immigrant children from deportation from the only country they have ever known. In addition, the program allows these immigrant children to receive an education and ultimately find stable employment.  

Approximately 72% of DACA recipients are involved in higher education, and nearly 80% of DACA recipients have current drivers licenses. DACA has allowed at risk children to become highly productive and functional members of society– one of which, attends Fullerton Union High School.

This FUHS student–who is choosing to remain anonymous–is an undocumented immigrant and is not protected under DACA, but has lived nearly their entire life in the United States. They were planning on applying for DACA last year.

“We tried [to apply], but we couldn’t make the certain time so me and my brother couldn’t apply, but we really tried. We hoped that in the future we would be able to,” anonymous said.  

This student has been living with their older brother and two parents in the United States for ten years and came when they were merely in 2nd grade. Every year they try and apply for different immigration protection programs.

“It’s so hard because we all struggle. We are afraid to get things wrong and get deported. It’s hard for us to give information because they might send us back to Mexico. So, it’s just so scary,” anonymous said.

This is the only country that they have ever known. While the student’s very first language was Spanish, they speak perfect English. In addition, this particular student is taking two AP classes: AP Spanish and AP Calculus. They are planning to go to college.

“I want to apply to Cal Poly and UC Irvine,” anonymous said.

The first thing they would do if they got accepted into the DACA program is apply for scholarships and a job to help pay for their college education.

More than 40% of DACA recipients attribute their first job as a result of being in DACA, and this student is not an exception.  

“I want to help others,” anonymous said. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse and I always loved helping other people.”

The Center for American Progress estimated that if DACA was repealed, the United States would not only lose 800,000 people who make our country a better place, but $460 billion in the GDP over the next 10 years.

“It’s just a cruel thing to do…it makes me so sad,” anonymous said.

This one student is not alone. They stand with 800,000 dreamers, who hope for a better life and have come to the United States to pursue their aspirations of excellence.