DACAmented: A Story of 14 Dreamers

Marcela Rojas, Ph.D., Ethnic Studies

Emily Venegas, Undergraduate, Ethnic Studies

Melanie Sigar, Undergraduate, Ethnic Studies

On September 5, 2017, President Trump ordered the end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that shields some 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants from deportation. These young people were brought to the United States illegally as children and passed through a process to qualify for the program. In fall 2017, APU students from ETHN 357 Chican@/Latin@ Experience were given the task of finding and interviewing a young DACA participant. Fourteen APU students interviewed 14 young dreamers, among them college students, college graduates, and young people with work permits. ETHN 357 gives voice and face to these stories that move but above all inspire determination and the desire to progress.