One year ago, undocumented young people turned out by the thousands across the country to apply for a new government program that allows them to stay in the United States, work and remain safe from deportation. A dream and a chance for a pathway to citizenship.
A report just released by Brookings provides information on the “DREAMers” who applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals relief beginning on August 15, 2012.
There are more than 557,000 of them and nearly 72 percent (400,562) have been approved for the program as of the end of June. Those DREAMers came the US as children from around the world. 75% of those DREAMers had been in the country for more than a decade by the time they applied for deferred action, and 33% entered before they were 5 years old. Most applicants were ages 15 to 23.
The program is clearly successful, however it is only a small resolution and we must keep fighting for a comprehensive immigration reform!