Let’s talk DACA

When I was younger, I remember a boy in my class say that you can only see your dreams when you are sleeping and that they are not real (kid logic, make sense, right?). My teacher overheard and corrected him. She told the whole class that dreams are just a preview of our future and that it is up to us if we want to see them come true.

“Dreams do come true and we can do anything if we set your minds to it.”

Pretty cliche, right? But it’s true.

DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals allows Dreamers to have a chance at achieving the “American Dream”. Dreamers are children that were brought to this country by the decision of their parents. DACA grants education, jobs, and a life in a place that Dreamers call home.  These so called “job stealing immigrants” are people saving lives as paramedics, teachers showing your child right from wrong,  your friends, your classmates, your neighbors or even your family. That is over 800,000 young people who contribute this country’s economy.

The decision to remove DACA will not in any way bring the Latino community down. This is our opportunity to unite, speak up, stand up, and fight for what is right. There are many ways to help and it starts with you. Talk about it. Bring up the conversation with your co-workers, classmates or maybe even a stranger at a coffee shop. Do something.

Here’s how:

• Text RESIST to 50409 and it will allow you to send a fax via text to your senators.
• Call Congress at (202) 224-3121
• Call the White House at (202) 224-3121
• Ask them to defend and preserve DACA and to vote in favor of the Dream Act.

What you are about to see is a black and white film photography series of my friends that are DACA recipients at Armstrong State University. It was an experiment with lighting and layering where the the students in the photos hand wrote a small definition of who they are. These diptychs represent their past, present and future. DACA students are

#HERETOSTAY #UNDOCUMENTEDANDUNAFRAID #DEFENDDACA