Dreamers and Their place in the United States
The United States defines itself as a multicultural nation, an ideal nation for immigrants
to live, and it should be reflected in its immigration policy. According to Pew Research “There
were 11.2 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2015, which represented the 3.4% of
the nation’s population at time”. Within this population there are many young immigrants, which
were brought by their parents to the United States when they were child. These youth are known
as dreamers. In 2012, President Barack Obama passed The Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA) in order to provide dreamers with a permit that would allow them to work and
study in the United States without the fear of deportation. However, Donald Trump announced
the cancellation of DACA program on March 2018, which provoked a major disagreement in
congress. Democrats voted to fix DACA while Republicans wanted funds for security border
enhancements. The following timeline demonstrates that the United States is a country that has
welcomed immigrants throughout history. Therefore, Congress should approve an extension of
the DACA program so that it may keep providing those dreamers the opportunity to live in the
United States, and they may succeed in their education and be able to continue contributing to
our society.
1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act
The United Stated enacted a federal Law known as
the Chinese Exclusion Act. It was the first
restricted immigration law in the United States.
Immigrants arriving Ellis Island (Take from This act was created in order to exclude Chinese
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/ellis-island/ellis-
island-1907.jpg) Laborer to enter and remain in the United States.
Even though, this act stopped immigration from China, many Chinese were able to stay in the
United States, and were able to work and have a better quality life in the United States.
1921 The Emergency Quota Act
This immigration federal law was created to limit the
entering of the immigrants from certain countries. This
act admitted from any country annually to 3% of the
Refugees (Taken from
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~simon20r/SS%20
St.%20Louis/americanimmigration.html) number of residents from that same country living in the
United States as of the U.S. Census of 1910 like
eastern and Central Europe (Bray, lewis 7). . The Emergency Quota Act limited the
immigration from certain countries, but the immigrants that were already living in the United
States were allowed to remain in the United States.
1965 Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
This immigration and Nationality Act
“introduced two primary ways of
becoming an immigrant: by family
relationship and by the employment needs
of the United States” (Bray, lewis 8). The
President Johnson Signing the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act
of 1965 (Taken from quota racially biased act was abolished,
http://reasonradionetwork.com/images/2011/11/JohnsonSigns1965I
NSact.jpg )
and it is mostly the immigration law that we have today.
The USA Patriot Act
According to the New York Times, this act was
enacted:
"In response to the 9/11 terror attacks, the USA
Patriot Act tightens immigration, putting it under the
control of the Department of Homeland Security."
Even thought, this act restrain immigration,
United State Department of Homeland Security
(Taken from https://www.amazon.com/United- immigrant were still permitted enter to the United
Department-Homeland-Security-
Insignia/dp/B00HZBAPC0)
States.
Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA)
DACA was an executive action passed by
President Obama in 2012. This program
"Defers, or delays, the deportation of
undocumented immigrants from the United
Protesting in favor of DACA (Taken from
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-yorkers- States if they arrived in the country as children and
protest-sociopath-trump-move-daca-article-1.3483466)
meet certain other qualifications."
Even thought, these immigration acts were suppressing immigrants, throughout history,
the United States has allowed immigrants to enter and remain in its land. As a result, dreamers
should not be the exception. For many dreamers the only country that they consider theirs is the
United States. President Barack Obama mentioned in 2012 define many of those Dreamers as
young people who are full of “hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people”. Dreamers are a
great assets to the United States they just need the opportunity, so they may prepare to contribute
to our society.
Works Cited
Krogstad, Jens Manuel, et al. “5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S.” Pew Research
Center, 27 Apr. 2017, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/5-facts-about-illegal-
immigration-in-the-u-s/.
"Immigration Act of 1921." Immigration Act of 1921, 8/1/2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost,
libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh
&AN=21213138&site=eds-live.
Bray, Ilona and Loida Nicolas Lewis. "CHAPTER 1: Immigration Then and Now." How to Get a
Green Card, July 2016, pp. 5-10. EBSCOhost,
libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lir&
AN=116949912&site=eds-live.
SMITH, PATRICIA. "The Great IMMIGRATION Debate: We're a Nation of Immigrants, but
We Endlessly Argue about Who to Welcome to Our Shores. Why Are We so Divided?."
New York Times Upfront, vol. 150, no. 9, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 10.
EBSCOhost,libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tr
ue&db=mat&AN=127989208&site=eds-live.
“Remarks by the President on Immigration.” National Archives and Records Administration,
National Archives and Records Administration, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-
press-office/2012/06/15/remarks-president-immigration.
