Spread of Hate By the Uninformed
posted by Laura M. Bell | September 13, 2017 | In OpinionThe end of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), an immigrations policy enacted by the Obama Administration, has won over the support of Americans who don’t have a clue of what DACA actually is.
DACA is an immigration policy meant to give a two-year amnesty from deportation to those who were illegally brought to the United States before the age of fifteen. DACA also allows its recipients to apply for a work permit, attend school and obtain a driver’s license.
Those in favor of ending DACA are making wild claims that recipients are able to get massive welfare benefits, such as Section 8 housing, food stamps, and even free college. This misinformation is not only wrong, it’s spreading hate and resentment toward the children of illegal immigrants.
According to the National Immigration Law Center DACA recipients are not eligible for welfare, nor are they eligible for food assistance. They are also unable to sign up for health care under the Affordable Care Act, even if they pay for the insurance at market value with zero government subsidies.
Free college does not exist for DACA recipients. DACA students are charged tuition at an out-of-state rate. They are also ineligible for Federal Financial Aid. Tuition is paid for by the student themselves, or through scholarships and grants.
Another argument made by those in favor of ending DACA is that the government is allowing criminals to remain in the country. The last year has been filled with a rhetoric that paints immigrants as criminals without a moral compass, and that picture continues to spread even though DACA has a strict screening process for applicants.
In order to be considered eligible for DACA one must have either a high school diploma or a GED. Those applying are ineligible if they have any felonies, and only certain misdemeanors are allowed without disqualifying applicant.
A third argument against the continuation of the DACA program is that DACA recipients are a drain on the economy. Recipients are given a social security number, and are working legally, so they are paying taxes into program they are ineligible to partake in such as welfare and Medicaid.
Each application comes with a hefty $495 fee that must be renewed every two years. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Council, there were 92,044 initial DACA applications, and 391,551 renewal applications in 2015. The applications alone in 2015 brought in $239,374,575. Exactly, how are DACA recipients a drain on the economy?
If the anti-DACA arguments were true, I would totally understand ending the program, but they are nothing but false antidotes that spread fear and distain. DACA recipients were not brought into our country by their own choosing. They are contributing to the United States, and they should be given deferment.
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