My name is Jackie and I am the immigrants’ rights campaign coordinator for the ACLU of West Virginia. I’m also a DACA-recipient, AKA a Dreamer.
The DACA program has been life-changing for me. I was brought to the United States from Mexico as a small child and I didn’t find out I was undocumented until I began applying for college. I had no say in any of this.
This program has allowed me to stay here, get a job, and so many other things. In a way it has allowed me security. This was important to me then, but even more so now that I have a small child of my own.
I can even begin to explain how happy I am today. The Supreme Court threw a lifeline to me and some 650,000 other Dreamers that will allow us to stay safe from deportation, at least for now. This decision is allowing us to keep our hope alive for another day.
The 5-4 ruling basically says that the Trump administration was wrong in the way it tried to rescind the DACA program, which was started under President Obama.
Today’s ruling is the result of so many undocumented and unafraid young people who stood up for their rights and demanded acceptance into the country that they know and love. But this fight is far from over.
I also have a request for you today. I need you to listen to what I have to say. I mean really listen.
Even as a DACA recipient, I can’t vote. When you head to the polls or when you get your absentee ballot this November, I need you to think about me. Think about the child I will be leaving behind if the person you mark on that ballot won’t protect me. I need you to vote for me and the millions of people across this country just like me.
I need you to vote for marginalized people everywhere, but especially those who can’t vote themselves. Our lives and our children’s lives are in your hands. Please, I am asking you to help us.
Today’s ruling is incredible, but it is temporary. If anti-immigrant politicians maintain their hold on power this election, we could wind up right back here in no time. So I celebrate today, thankful that I was allowed one more day raising my son.
Please, I ask you, educate yourself about candidates in this election, and please, please vote.
My life depends on it.