How DREAMers Made the Deferred-Action Program a Reality

 

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Karla Campos, a 26-year-old undocumented mother, recently decided to go back to school after dropping out, and she says the deferred action program offers a huge incentive to stay enrolled despite the difficulties.

"Now, with all that is going on...it's a big opportunity to make a difference in my future and my kids' future and be able to provide for them," Campos said. "It's always been on my head, but with this, of course, I have to take the chance."

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Koelsch says that while he's seen "a few" young people decide to return to school in order to apply for deferred action, he thinks "it's a blip, not really a trend."

He added that a teacher friend in Detroit hasn't seen a spike either.

"It's kind of hard," Campos said, "because I've got to go way back and try to get papers to prove I've been here for so long, but I think I qualify and I will be able to get everything."

Dominguez thinks it's worth the effort, and encouraged young DREAMers to get involved.

"From the perspective of someone who can't vote, it starts with if you can vote, go vote," she said, "but there are also ways, at all levels, to stay engaged."