13 Years of DACA and Still Waiting for Justice: Poder Latinx Demands Permanent Protection for DACA Recipients

NATIONWIDE — As the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program marks its 13th anniversary this Sunday, June 15th, Poder Latinx stands in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have made the United States their home. 

Known as Dreamers at the start of the movement —undocumented youth who sought protection and opportunity— they are now educators, health care workers, parents, business owners, and essential contributors to every sector of American life. For 13 years, they have lived in limbo, carrying the weight of uncertainty while contributing to every corner of this nation. Today, that uncertainty has turned into fear, as a new wave of immigration raids tears families apart and deepens the sense of crisis in our communities.

The following statement can be attributed to Yadira Sánchez, Executive Director of Poder Latinx:

“This anniversary is not a celebration, but a sobering reminder of an unfulfilled promise. DACA recipients have done everything asked of them and more. They are no longer just Dreamers; they are doers, leaders, and community pillars. Yet they continue to be denied the stability and dignity that only a path to citizenship can provide. After 13 years, the time for temporary solutions is over.

This year’s anniversary comes at a moment of heightened fear and urgency, as immigration raids and anti-immigrant crackdowns escalate in Los Angeles and other parts of the country. These actions—fueled by the xenophobic playbook of the Trump administration—are not only traumatizing immigrant communities but also serve as a cruel political distraction from inaction in Washington.

Poder Latinx calls on Congress and the federal administration to finally move beyond half-measures. DACA was never meant to be a permanent fix. We need bold legislation that provides a clear, inclusive, and immediate pathway to citizenship, not just for DACA recipients, but for all undocumented immigrants who call this country home. Our immigration system is outdated, punitive, and unsustainable. It’s time for a complete overhaul that upholds justice, humanity, and our values as a welcoming nation.

To our community members, our allies, our supporters, we want to make it clear: we will not stand by as these injustices unfold. Our organization will continue to offer Know Your Rights workshops and support immigrant justice efforts at both the state and national levels.

We will not allow our communities to be criminalized, scapegoated, or forgotten. The future of this country is immigrant, and that future cannot be delayed any longer. Congress must act now.”

###