DACA or the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals is a policy that allows undocumented citizens to pursue a higher education with protection from deportation and access to a social security code and a work permit. This policy was implemented by the Obama Administration after a long lawsuit against states who sued to prevent DACA’s implementation.

DACA itself raises the question of what status undocumented Americans hold in our nation. The topic has held its own in hundreds of debates, for this subject political parties hold no norm. Democrats and Republicans have not yet been able to set a standard for a nation regarding the requirements for non-citizens. Does gender play a role? Fluency in English or nationality? At which point do we decide to cap our entrance? What do we do with non violent offenders?

None of these questions, however, pertain to DACA. Dreamers are extremely young, some only fourteen years old, none of them are felons, and those who can have jobs do. The attack on DACA is a direct hit to the most ideal immigrants, most of which are now completely foreigners to the country they were born in.

Public schools do not check for citizenship, all students are able to be supported without that bias. Even Lincoln High School makes special accommodations for students who are not fluent in English, those who may have learning or physical disabilities, or provide those who are going through financial with whichever support they may require. So why are we investing  potentially millions of dollars, rightfully so, in these childrens educations if by the time they can use their talents they face deportation? Our economy would take a hard hit without these very capable and successful students careers, especially local businesses.

These students also provide talents that American born students simply cannot. Knowing how to work within different cultures while being bilingual is a prized ability that all DACA students poses. The ability to overcome racial stereotypes while always living under deportations thumb all while being a high achieving students is priceless. These children are persistent and brave though they face hardships Americans will never have to endure, they deserve our support and our fight for their right to education.

Interviewing DACA students had proved to be an extremely difficult feat, Dreamers fear not only racial persecution but risk deportation as well. The only student willing to talk with us was an 11th grade Dreamer here at Lincoln whose identity we are choosing to keep private.

“DACA means the world to me because it gives me and thousands of other young immigrants opportunities we previously did not have like a higher education and a higher skilled jobs to name a few. Removing DACA breaks my heart because it would be taking away my future as well as thousands of others. It is also something so inhumane and low of our president to do because like myself most of these young immigrants under DACA came to the USA at such a young [age] when we had no say in the decision being made by our parents;  as much as we appreciate our parents sacrifice er are still at no fault of being in this country. America should know that removing DACA would affect all, DACA benefits the American Economy so much that by removing DACA the country would lose billions. Many under DACA are the next generation of lawyers, doctors, teachers etc… We consider ourselves American because while we were born in another country we have known no other home but here.”

Recently Sam Liccardo, mayor of San Jose, announced that San Jose will be the first city to sue the Trump administration in order to keep the fight for DACA alive. A reported 1,74o eligible students in Santa Clara county face an uncertain future, a future Silicon Valley lawyers are ready to defend.

Our own Principal, Mathew Hewitson, made Lincoln’s stance very clear as explained the situation passionately. “The entire system needs to change, its not fair to the students. It needs to be the right system thats fair for everyone and be consistently enforced.”