Fourteen Years of DACA: Contributions Without Certainty, and a Continued Call for Action
NATIONAL - As we mark the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Poder Latinx recognizes the profound contributions of the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have played an essential role in strengthening communities across the country. DACA recipients are deeply woven into the fabric of American life.
At the same time, this anniversary reflects a system that has left them in prolonged uncertainty. Since its creation, DACA has faced repeated political and legal challenges, including attempts by multiple administrations and congressional opponents to dismantle the program, leaving recipients and their families without long-term security.
Fourteen years later, Congress has yet to establish a permanent pathway to citizenship. DACA recipients now face delays in renewing their status, while others have been unjustly detained and held in immigration detention centers. The continued attacks on DACA have underscored what recipients have long known: the program was never meant to be a permanent solution. Today, the consequences of that failure are no longer theoretical, highlighting the urgent need for lasting legislative action.
“Today we recognize the extraordinary contributions and resilience of DACA recipients, but we cannot ignore that after more than a decade they are still waiting for the permanent protections they were promised,” said Yadira Sánchez, Executive Director of Poder Latinx. “They continue to show up every day as students, workers, parents, and community members despite living with uncertainty about their future. The responsibility to act rests with elected leaders who have repeatedly failed to deliver lasting solutions. DACA recipients deserve dignity, stability, and a pathway to citizenship that allows them to build their lives without fear. Poder Latinx will continue standing alongside immigrant communities in the fight for the protections and legislative action they have long earned.”
As Immigrant Heritage Month continues, we honor the countless ways immigrants strengthen our communities and our country. We also recognize that this moment remains particularly challenging for immigrant families, as anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies continue to create fear and uncertainty for many.
We call on our nation's leaders to move beyond inaction and work toward lasting legislative solutions that uphold dignity, protect families, and create a clear pathway to citizenship
On this anniversary, Poder Latinx also recognizes the millions of immigrants living in this country without permanent protections or a pathway to citizenship. We honor their resilience and their belief in a future where they can fully belong, contribute, and thrive.
###