Lulú Martínez, 23, was part of the Dream 9 movement in 2013. Together with Lizbeth Mateo and Marco Saavedra they attempted something bold: Despite being undocumented, they returned to Mexico in order to bring back six Dreamers who had been deported or left the U.S. before many young immigrants won protection against deportation under the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The nine youths showed up at the U.S. port of entry in Nogales, Arizona, and requested asylum. They were placed in detention and eventually released with pending cases. Photo by Nick Oza.
Dreamers don’t consider themselves a minority. With great political clarity, their practice of de facto citizenship has made them one of the nation’s most important activist movements
Editor’s Note: Click here to read this article in Spanish.
cit-i-zen
adj. an inhabitant of a city or town
adj. Belonging to or relating to the city or citizens.
Person considered as an active member of a State, holder of political rights, and subject to its laws.
Lizbeth Mateo seems invincible. It doesn’t matter if the judges rule for or against the protection of immigrants like her; whether Congress is Democratic or Republican; if the president is Trump or Biden; or if immigration authorities have a new plan: Lizbeth, like many other young people of her generation, knows that when it comes to immigration, change has happened over time.
The problem for Lizbeth, and almost two million young and undocumented people who came to the United States as minors, is that this time the wait for change has already been too long.
If the DREAM Act had been approved the first time it was introduced in Congress, in August 2001, they would have safely been legal residents or citizens by now.
The legislation, which aims to legally recognize young people who have lived most of their lives in this country, has been subject to much political argument and change over two decades. Yet none of that has yielded a final result.
What is remarkable is that during the same 20 years, young people like Lizbeth, who is now 37, have overcome obstacles and moved on with their lives. They’ve become citizens in the broadest sense of the word. They have worked to become part of their communities; they have created solidarity networks; and they have also won some battles - such as the implementation of the Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the 2012 presidential order that protects them from deportation, although it does not offer them an option to regularize their status. In Lizbeth's case, hard work and a response by her network of support led her to graduate from law school, pass the bar and become a practicing lawyer despite being undocumented, and legally representing other immigrants find the path to citizenship that is not available to her.
Eight from the Dream 9 youth in 2013. From left: Lulú Martínez, Lizbeth Mateo, Claudia Amaro, Ceferino Santiago, María Peniche, Adriana Paola Gil Díaz , Luis León and Marco Saavedra. Photo by Valeria Fernández.
There are currently two versions of the legislation pending in Congress: the DREAM Act 2021 in the Senate, and the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 in the House of Representatives. Both proposals are politically driven updates of the original Dreamer bill, and offer paths to citizenship.
Regardless of what is offered to these young people — many of them now closer to middle age — the experience of the last two decades forces us to ask: What defines a citizen? Can the exercise of citizenship - participation in the community and a productive life in society - be accomplished in many ways? Are you a citizen based on where you live, where you feel most comfortable, where you work every day? Are you a citizen depending on where your mother gave birth to you? Are you a citizen because it says so on a piece of paper?
De facto Citizens
The image that comes to mind when talking about the Dreamers is that of youngsters who arrived a few years ago and who are on their way to college, or looking for other options for their future. However, those young people have grown into adults with lives of their own, built by effort and struggle. Many of them now have children who are U.S. citizens. Estimates show that more than 256,000 U.S.-born children and adolescents have at least one parent protected by DACA.
When the legislation was first introduced, about 1.8 million young people could have been beneficiaries of the DREAM Act. Since then, almost two million more have joined this group.
Although in these last two decades young Dreamers have not had access to the voting booth, their political and civic participation is without question. With great political clarity and precision of actions, Dreamers became one of the most important activist movements in recent years in the United States, which forced the media, politicians, and society to recognize their contributions and their presence in the country. Additionally, this group's asset is a diverse identity. It is a reflection of American society. Young Dreamers from the LGBTQ + community added the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity on their agendas, and gave rise to the movement known as “undocuqueer.”
Dreamers who identify as Black promoted the visibility of the undocumented community that does not define itself as African American, and coined the term “undocublack.” Young feminists or Dreamers belonging to smaller religious groups created alliances with others: at the 2018 Academy Awards, the topics most mentioned on stage were “Dreamers” and the #MeToo movement.
These young people do not see themselves as a minority, but rather as active citizens of the United States regardless of their legal status.
There is even a trend within the movement that refuses to accept the term Dreamers, considering that the DREAM Act legislation, by focusing on access to higher education, reinforces the narrative of the good immigrant versus the bad immigrant.
To a large extent, the main attribute that allows this movement to relate on so many levels is that these young people do not see themselves as undocumented minorities, deserving of fewer rights, but as active citizens of the United States. Of course, they are affected by the violation of the rights of immigrants or the arrest of people without documents, but they’re also speaking out, becoming activists, about budget cuts to education or health services, the lack of environmental regulations, or attacks on freedom of the press. Sharing interests with others has resulted in a clearly intersectional movement solidly in the middle of the American mainstream.
Essential citizens
As the coronavirus pandemic has dragged on, the discussion about essential jobs in the hands of immigrants brought to the forefront the need to address the status of those who do not have documents, or who are under temporary protection. It’s long known that DACA recipients have contributed to the United States economy, and now face COVID-19 as frontline workers: They are in healthcare as physicians, nurses, and assistants; in homes and assisted-living settings as caregivers; and many work in the distribution of goods and services.
Brian de los Santos is an editor at LAist and Yunuén Bonaparte is a successful photographer in New York. Photos courtesy of Brian de los Santos and Yunuén Bonaparte.
In the United States, there are almost 700,000 young people who have been protected by DACA, and who have taken advantage of this opportunity: they finished their studies, some graduating with honors; they have become doctors, nurses, lawyers, activists or artists. Some have started small businesses that create jobs, and many are the main breadwinners for their families. And in some cases they are now part of mixed-status families — households where a Dreamer has a spouse or children who are legal residents or U.S. citizens.
DACA recipients in the labor force
77,000 work in restaurants
43,000 work in the healthcare industry or as caregivers
32,000 work in supermarkets, pharmacies, and other businesses
21,000 work in small businesses and in transporting goods
14,000 work in the manufacturing sector
10,000 work in cleaning and waste management
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2018.
It is moving to hear the personal stories of young people who have flourished under the DACA umbrella: Alma de Jesús and Alejandro Catalán, who joined the movement in 2003 and today have two U.S.-citizen children, were able to rent a place of their own, get credit cards, and improve their income. Brian de los Santos, who finished his journalism studies 10 years ago, is an editor at LAist and has reported for The Los Angeles Times. Yunuén Bonaparte, who faced difficulties paying her college tuition, today is a successful photographer in New York.
In addition to the individual stories, the official numbers give an idea of the importance of the role this community has had in the country’s progress. According to Census Bureau calculations in 2018, employment sectors with the most DACA recipients are restaurants and food services, with almost 77,000 young people. They are followed by 43,000 in healthcare and as caregivers, including at least 10,000 in hospitals. There are 21,000 who work in small businesses and transportation of goods; 32,000 in supermarkets, pharmacies, and other businesses; 14,000 in manufacturing, and more than 10,000 who do cleaning and waste management work. Nearly a third of all DACA recipients are among those who have been on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.
Alejandro Catalán and Alma de Jesús joined the Dreamer movement in 2003. They are now parents of two U.S. citizen children. Photo courtesy of the Catalán family.
Once again in Congress’ hands
In 2017, the CEOs of Apple, Google, Amazon, and 800 other Silicon Valley companies sent a letter to congressional leaders demanding a solution for the Dreamers because they are crucial for global competitiveness. To stop employing them in these companies, the letter added, would represent the loss of $460 billion for the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a loss of $24 billion from contributions to Social Security and healthcare services through taxes.
Over the last decade, Dreamers also turned their organizational capacity into political capital. During the 2016 presidential race, the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, among others, hired Dreamers who have stood out as leaders. In addition to Lizbeth Mateo, other young people, such as Luis Ángel Reyes and Daniel Rodríguez, managed to become immigration lawyers.
The media has also been strengthened by the presence of these bilingual, binational, and bicultural youth, a hardly negligible asset in a U.S. market where the buying power of Latino consumers continues to grow.
But as a reminder of how fragile the Dreamers’ status really is, a federal judge in Texas recently ruled that DACA is illegal, denying new applicants the possibility of obtaining this benefit. The U.S. Justice Department announced it would appeal this decision. This unleashes another round of uncertainty about jobs, economic instability, and psychological and emotional burdens.
Once again, young people face anxiety that will not end until the DREAM Act, or comprehensive immigration law reforms, provides these valuable de facto citizens full access to actual citizenship. DACA has provided benefits, but it is a Band-Aid trying to keep a wound closed that actually requires major surgery, soon. That surgery, it is also well known, is the recognition of citizenship that Dreamers have nurtured, through their own hard work.
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Timeline
“Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduce the bipartisan DREAM Act
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin meeting with a group of Dreamers in Washington DC on 2017. Photo by Adrienne St. Clair/Cronkite News.”
“Senators Durbin and Hatch introduce for a second time the bipartisan DREAM Act
”
“The DREAM Act is re-introduced in both chambers
”
“The House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, but the bill fell short by only five votes to reach the 60 votes necessary to pass in the Senate
”
“Civil disobedience actions are held by Dreamers organizations in several cities around the country by the motto “Undocumented and unafraid”
”
“Durbin and 32 fellow senators introduce the DREAM Act. This bill, just like all subsequent others, did not reach the floor for a vote
”
“The state of California enacts the California DREAM Act, giving undocumented immigrant students access to private college scholarships for state schools. Other states will follow
”
“President Barack Obama announces DACA
”
“USCIS begins taking applications for DACA
Dulce Vazquez (left) and her sister, Bibiana, pose in central Phoenix in 2012, around the time they applied to live and work in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Photo by Nick Oza. ”
“The Trump administration rescinds DACA. Multiple lawsuits challenge this action and three separate district courts order an injunction to prevent the phase-out of the program
Dreamers and community members gather in Phoenix, Arizona to hear Attorney General Jeff Sessions announce DACA’s revocation. Photo by Valeria Fernández”
“Senator Durbin, along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), re-introduces the bipartisan DREAM Act
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, left, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, the lead sponsors of the Dream Act during a rally at the Capitol in 2017. Photo by Adrienne St. Clair/Cronkite News”
“Congressional leaders file a bipartisan amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of DACA
Youth protesting outside the U.S. Supreme Court in November 2019. Photo by Yunuén Bonaparte.”
“President Biden issues an executive order reinstating DACA
”
“Durbin and Graham re-introduce the DREAM Act 2021
”
“Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduces the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021
Alejandra Valenzuela 17, takes photographs of her friends during her graduation. Photo by Nick Oza.”
“A federal judge in Texas rules that DACA is illegal and blocks the federal government from accepting new applications. President Biden said the U.S. Justice Department intends to appeal
”
Eileen Truax is a Mexican journalist with more than 25 years of experience. Her work has been published in the United States, Latin America, and Spain, such as The Washington Post, Vice, El Universal, El Faro, Gatopardo, and 5W, among others. She has published three books with editions in English and Spanish: “Dreamers, an immigrant generation’s fight for their American Dream ;” “How does it feel to be unwanted. Stories of resistance and resilience from Mexicans in the US;” and “We built the wall. How the US keeps out asylum seekers from Mexico, Central America and beyond.”
She is currently a professor in the Masters of Literary Journalism program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), where she is also working on her doctorate in the Media, Communication, and Culture program.
Nick Oza, joined the Arizona Republic as a staff photographer in 2006. He specializes in covering social issues, among them immigration, child welfare, gangs, and mental health. Oza was part of the Knight-Ridder team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2006 for its coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and 2017 The Wall Project for USA TODAY. (Photo by Stacey Champion.)