My thoughts and prayers are with those who are hurting tonight because of the Trump administration’s decision to begin phasing out Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, also known as “DACA."  I hope whatever Congress creates keeps the essence of what DACA is meant to provide: support to immigrant children who, by no fault of their own, were brought to the United States… many of whom have called the United States “home” for the majority of their lives, thus far.  Yes, most of them are adults now, but they arrived in the United States as children and grew up here.  One such young person, whom I love dearly, is really hurting right now, and expressed that “Immigrants contribute more than natural-born citizens because we always feel like we need to work harder for what we get.”  

Dreamers pay to apply for DACA, and they pay to renew their status as DACA recipients.  Dreamers are fingerprinted when applying for DACA and renewing their status.  Dreamers attend school, college, and work; some are entrepreneurs, and some serve in the United States military.  As President Obama said, the only difference between Dreamers and documented Americans is paperwork.  Not only do Dreamers work, but taxes get withheld from their paychecks for services that they cannot partake of because DACA doesn’t actually grant them citizenship or residency; however, in true American spirit, Dreamers work daily to contribute to this country.  How dare anyone threaten their security and their peace?  My Cruising Family stands with Dreamers. 

This situation reminds me of the quote I recently chose for the homepage of our website: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad (1869).  Then again, as a Dreamer pointed out to me, the same can be said for reading.  What do traveling and reading have in common?  The development of an open mind, and a just and compassionate heart.  Let’s hope and pray that Congress approaches the task of addressing DACA with an open mind, and a just and compassionate heart. 

As a constant advocate for folks to travel the world, I will not sit silent about the belittling or distortion of the Dreamers’ experiences.  How can I tell the American public to venture to other parts of the world and to educate themselves about the many cultures that exist in our world, when the United States of America itself is intentionally treating immigrants from those same countries with such contempt?  As for My Cruising Family, we will have compassion for others.  We will uphold justice.  We will dream.  We will support those who dream. 

What are your thoughts on the recent announcement to phase out DACA?