- History & Culture
- Explainer
Why DACA—and Dreamers—are forever in a state of limbo
They were brought to the U.S. as children—and for many, it’s the only home they’ve ever known. Here’s what you need to know about the many roadblocks facing DACA and Dreamers.
For millions of people brought to the United States without documentation as children, simply existing can mean breaking the law. Many don’t have the legal paperwork that allows them to work, drive, or attend school. And even though they may speak fluent English, know no other country, and consider themselves American, the threat of deportation is always present.
“I’ve lost a lot in life due to my undocumented status,” Fatima, a 29-year-old student brought to the U.S. from Bangladesh when she was a year old, told the National Immigration Law Center. Without legal status, she said, “I am in limbo forever.”
The people living in this state of suspended reality are known as Dreamers, so named for the legislation that
