By thinking through the implications of the D.A.C.A. or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy in the United States this series explores the complexity of national identity and belonging, highlighting how citizenship can profoundly impact individual freedom. D.A.C.A. was introduced in 2012 under the Obama administration. It aimed to provide temporary relief from deportation to certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, often referred to as "Dreamers." According to the United Nations, the U.S.-Mexico border, which contains vast sections of desert terrain, is the world's deadliest land migration route.
My collaborator and former partner, Miguel Luna, is a D.A.C.A. recipient. He has no viable pathway to a secure immigration status despite working, paying taxes, and living in the U.S. for over 24 years. Our series, "Looking for Guerrero", began when we met in 2021. As Miguel is barred by law from freely leaving the U.S., he can't visit me while I live abroad or his birthplace of Guerrero, Mexico. His family emigrated from Guerrero due to economic hardship, a symptom of colonialism and American imperialism.
My collaborator and former partner, Miguel Luna, is a D.A.C.A. recipient. He has no viable pathway to a secure immigration status despite working, paying taxes, and living in the U.S. for over 24 years. Our series, "Looking for Guerrero", began when we met in 2021. As Miguel is barred by law from freely leaving the U.S., he can't visit me while I live abroad or his birthplace of Guerrero, Mexico. His family emigrated from Guerrero due to economic hardship, a symptom of colonialism and American imperialism.
The constant threat of D.A.C.A.'s repeal and his deportation pushes him to consider leaving the U.S. to join the Mexican military, following in his father's footsteps, who was a soldier before emigrating from Guerrero. A plan that highlights the American government’s negligence, forcing “Dreamers” to reverse their parent's original search for a better life. In the meantime, Miguel looks for Guerrero and a sense of home wherever he goes. Broader historical programs, such as the Bracero Program (1942-1964), which allowed Mexican laborers temporary entry into the U.S., are other examples of failed initiatives between the two countries.
The current political climate in the U.S. exacerbates the uncertainty for D.A.C.A. recipients. The Trump administration's attempts to rescind D.A.C.A. in 2017 and ongoing legal challenges have left many Dreamers in a state of limbo. This precarious situation underscores the arbitrary yet devastating impact of nationhood concepts on human rights. As Americans just re-elected Trump, it is crucial to consider how many people remain stateless and devoid of their human rights, left only with their resilience and resistance.
Donate and support D.A.C.A. recipients attending college.
The current political climate in the U.S. exacerbates the uncertainty for D.A.C.A. recipients. The Trump administration's attempts to rescind D.A.C.A. in 2017 and ongoing legal challenges have left many Dreamers in a state of limbo. This precarious situation underscores the arbitrary yet devastating impact of nationhood concepts on human rights. As Americans just re-elected Trump, it is crucial to consider how many people remain stateless and devoid of their human rights, left only with their resilience and resistance.
Donate and support D.A.C.A. recipients attending college.