Argument-research essay

If trump ends the Dreamers program, he would tear apart the lives and families of nearly a million immigrants. He would take away the opportunity given to many young people working hard to reach their potential. DACA has helped ease the lives of countless individuals and their families. This program was only designed to help people in need. It does not exist for any random individual. Besides, every applying person is to meet certain requirements in order to qualify. With the help of those who run the program, DACA has allowed undocumented young people to achieve financial stability, attain a higher education, enroll in health insurance and help their local community members in numerous ways. Britteny Pfleger, a graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, wrote in an article called: “Show Me Your Legal Status” that “In July, 2014, more than half a million of the 600,000 who applied for DACA have received relief from deportation and a work permit.” This has allowed many members of DACA, whom much of them are students, to support their futures and families at the same time.

Pfleger also suggests in her article from the perspective of the supreme court of the United States, that they may have felt obligated to protect these undocumented and uneducated students because they did not choose to be disadvantaged due being poor. The court issued to provide them with proper educating opportunities. Without education, they may be permanently trapped in the life of poverty, making them part of the lowest socioeconomic class in their community. Her article mentions that countless surveys have proven that studies are an essential component to an individual being productive in their society.

Ever since DACA was created, it has been positively affecting the economy, which is a benefit to all Americans. In the article “Coming To America” by Ann Morse, the Program Director of the Immigrant Policy Project at the National Conference of State Legislatures, “Immigrants pay their share of sales, property and income taxes and have positive effects on economic growth and business development.” This proves that members of DACA benefit the economy through their buying of cars, purchases of homes and creating new businesses. It is now well known that even the top twenty five fortune companies such as Walmart and Apple began hiring DACA recipients.

Not only has DACA brought the United States a development in its economy, but it has also bettered the education. With the coming of DACA members, a profound increase in population and demand for gaining education came into the States. This increased competition within universities and public high education schools to allow only the best students to study at their schools. Students began to work harder in order to potentially be accepted in a school that will guarantee them a good education. William Perez, an associate professor of education in Claremont Graduate University's School of Educational Studies, spoke of DACA students and their education in his article “Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream”. He reveals what drives the undocumented youth and the visions they have of contributing to the country they now call home. Perez states that many of the young recipients are “not just persisting in the American educational system, but achieving academically, and moreover often participating in service to their local communities.” Now, a few years after the coming of DACA, the citizens are able to see the majority of DACA students pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher.

Although DACA benefits the United States in various ways, many people are under the impression that it brings a great deal of harm to the citizens. The number of immigrants is increasing daily and some fear that with more immigrants, there will be an increase in crime rates. There is a great number of Americans arguing that DACA should be more in control of its recipients since they are still considered “illegal”. However, according to the article “Why Common Critiques of DACA Are Misleading” by Linda Qiu, a former author for the New York Times, in order to qualify for DACA, an individual has to meet certain requirements. Among them are that the individual has not been convicted of a felony offense and thus, making him or her without risk towards the people of their new home.

Another group of citizens argue that DACA members are mistreated to the point it may harm them. Liz Robbins, an author for the New York Times, once argued in her article “Back-and-Forth on DACA Leaves Young Immigrants ‘Just Dangling’” that “This helplessness and lack of control in an otherwise highly motivated group of young adults has led to shock, depression and despair, said several social workers who work with advocacy groups around the city.”  Robbins claims that DACA members are suffering from many issues because they are not given the same treatment as the individuals around them. The emotional harm may affect their daily lives and perspective on life. Sure, they may have more financial stability and better healthcare but they may not be happy.  However, if really the recipients are mentally suffering, they should be given help by the community. Instead of taking them out of the country, why not find ways to prevent them from becoming anxious and depressed? If they are given better treatment and considered “legal” they may not have to go through stressful emotions in which they fear losing jobs and hope in their futures. Ever since the program DACA began allowing immigrants into the United States and gave them countless benefits of being in the country, more good has been brought to the citizens and country than harm. DACA is brightening the lives of many people by easing their lifestyles and reducing their worries. While doing so, the US economy is continuing to improve and by giving the opportunity of work and health benefits to the members of DACA, they are not afraid of tight financial and health circumstances for their families and future. DACA has proven to increase competition in the race for higher educational benefits, making students work harder to prove they are worthy of an outstanding scholarship towards their studies. The recipients of this life-saving program may breathe and live a life full of possibilities.

Works Cited

Morse, Ann. "Coming to America." State Legislatures, vol. 43, no. 10, Dec. 2017, pp. 10-15. EBSCOhost,  28 Nov. 2017,

Perez, William. “We Are Americans.” Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream, Aug. 2009, sty.presswarehouse.com/books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=209281.

Pfleger, Britteny. "Show Me" Your Legal Status: A Constitutional Analysis of Missouri's Exclusion of DACA Students from Postsecondary Educational Benefits." Missouri Law Review, vol. 81, no. 2, Spring 2016, pp. 605-628. EBSCOhost,

Qiu, Linda. “Why Common Critiques of DACA Are Misleading.” The New York Times, The   New York Times, 8 Sept. 2017,

Robbins, Liz. “Back-and-Forth on DACA Leaves Young Immigrants ‘Just Dangling.’” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Sept. 2017,