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." 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 23 years. Our series, "Looking for Guerrero", began when we met in 2021. As Miguel is barred from freely leaving the U.S., he can't visit me while I live abroad or his birthplace of Guerrero, Mexico.

However, 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. I ask you to consider how arbitrary yet devastating concepts like nationhood can be to human rights. As Americans head into another continuous presidential election, I implore them to consider that many people remain stateless and devoid of their human rights, left only with their resilience and resistance. 

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