Children Without Country: Being Undocumented in the USA. Marcelo Diversi Department of Human Development Washington State University Vancouver

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Randall Weaver
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1 Children Without Country: Being Undocumented in the USA Marcelo Diversi Department of Human Development Washington State University Vancouver

Undocumented Children and Their Families: Some Numbers ~11 million undocumented immigrants ~1.4 million under 18 ~4.5 million under 30 ~700,000 enrolled in DACA ~1.

2 Undocumented Children and Their Families: Some Numbers ~11 million undocumented immigrants ~1.4 million under 18 ~4.5 million under 30 ~700,000 enrolled in DACA ~1.3 million qualify for DACA WA has ~16,300 DACA recipients and ~28,000 eligible (59% participation rate) If Executive Order stays, ~900 people will fall of DACA status each day starting March 6, 2018 If Executive Order stays, all 700K DACA recipients will lose status by March 2020 Sources: U.S. Census, Pew Research Center, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS)

To qualify for DACA, applicants must meet the following major requirements, although meeting them does not guarantee approval: Came to the United States before their 16th birthday Have lived

3 To qualify for DACA, applicants must meet the following major requirements, although meeting them does not guarantee approval: Came to the United States before their 16th birthday Have lived continuously in the United States since June 15, 2007 Were under age 31 on June 15, 2012 (born on June 16, 1981 or after) Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012 Have completed high school or a GED, have been honorably discharged from the armed forces, or are enrolled in school Have not been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanors, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety To show proof of qualification, applicants must submit three forms; I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and I-765WS, Worksheet, as well as supporting documentation.

4 What DACA Allows and What It Does Not Allows: Deferred action against deportation Getting credit card Getting driver s license (some states) Work In-state tuition at public colleges Does Not: Federal financial aid Medicaid ACA (Obamacare) Housing Voucher TANF (welfare) Food Stamps (SNAP)

The Economics of DACA DACA recipients are projected to contribute $24.

6 billion) Will contribute over $433 billion to US GDP over a decade Repealing DACA will

4 billion to businesses and other employers in turnover costs Source: Immigrant Legal Resource

5 The Economics of DACA DACA recipients are projected to contribute $24.6 billion over decade to Social Security ($20 billion) and Medicare ($4.6 billion) Will contribute over $433 billion to US GDP over a decade Repealing DACA will increase unemployment by ~645,000 in one day Repealing DACA will add ~ $3.4 billion to businesses and other employers in turnover costs Source: Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Policy Report, December 2016: _money_on_the_table_economic_costs_of_ending_daca.pdf

Current Legal Status of Executive Order Rescinding DACA President Trump issued the rescission of DACA on September 5, 2017, to take effect 6 months later, March 5, 2018 Two lower courts (CA and NY)

6 Current Legal Status of Executive Order Rescinding DACA President Trump issued the rescission of DACA on September 5, 2017, to take effect 6 months later, March 5, 2018 Two lower courts (CA and NY) blocked the White House from ending DACA White House attempted to bypass the 9 th Circuit Appeals Court and went directly to the Supreme Court Supreme Court refused to hear the case before it goes to Appeals Court Until this juridical dispute is resolved, DACA remains, as does uncertainty about the future for millions of stakeholders (DACA, families, employers, USICE DHS, DOJ, schools, communities)

7 Trump s Four Immigration Policy Pillars 1. Offer citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants who were brought to the USA as children by family 2. Build the border wall between US and Mexico 3. End of green card lottery 4. End of chain migration (officially called family-based immigration)

14 Source:

15 Source:

Developmental Challenges of Living in Legal Limbo Discrimination and its impact on physical and mental health (Science, Aug 2017; The Lancet, Vol 2, Issue 4, April 2017; Social Science & Medicine,

16 Developmental Challenges of Living in Legal Limbo Discrimination and its impact on physical and mental health (Science, Aug 2017; The Lancet, Vol 2, Issue 4, April 2017; Social Science & Medicine, Vol 199, Feb 2018) Preparation for adulthood Education Identity Family formation Exposure to risk factors Deportation Trauma Racial profiling Gangs Rupture of family ties Loss of family social support and social capital Placement in detention camps or child welfare system

17 Acculturation Models JEAN PHINNEY S MODEL Connection With Host Culture High Assimilation Biculturalism Low Marginal Separation Low Connection with Culture of Origin High

6 DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

6 DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) 6 On June 15, 2012, President Obama directed the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a new program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA allows undocumented