Ending DACA Has Created A Looming Public Health Crisis
“So ICE has our information. How long until we can expect them to come for us?”
Yvette, a 22-year-old Mexican immigrant living in Michigan, was scared. Since the day Yvette (not her real name) was granted protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2013, her life had gained some stability. She was in college. She was working part time and was legally able to drive. She had access to health services. And, perhaps most importantly, she was not burdened by the stress and fear that any day, she could be deported.
Her question landed heavily in the room of DACA recipients gathered in a university classroom shortly after President Donald Trump moved to end DACA in September. They were there to reflect on their futures amid rapidly changing immigration policy: What happens when we can once again be forcibly removed from the country?
As the president and legislators use DACA recipients as a bargaining chip in their immigration reform debates, the 800,000 DACA recipients like Yvette must attempt to go about their lives wondering if they will again become targets for deportation.
Research has highlighted the plethora of negative health consequences that stem from living under the perpetual threat of deportation. Thus, the lack of congressional and presidential action to pass a clean DREAM Act and protect DACA recipients is a looming public health issue. Trump gave Congress until March 5 to come up with a legislative solution, though the actual deadline is murky, given a recent court injunction.