5 Reasons Why Deferred Action Should Be for All

2014 is coming soon. For us immigrant folks, it means that our Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is set to expire and we'd need to renew our work authorizations... And what about our parents? Will Congress actually achieve something? In the very likely case of that not happening, I wanted to share an idea: Deferred Action for All (DAfA, if you will). Why? Well, here are five reasons.

1. Because we need to work.

Via buzzworthy.mtv.com

Because undocumented immigrants contribute $15 billion dollars to Social Security in payroll taxes.

2. Because we want to feel safe driving

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Many of us live in mixed-status families, and we're only one traffic violation away from being ripped apart from our families.

3. Because we don't want to live in fear of deportations

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With the constant threat of deportations through things like SB1070 and SComm, our communities, even the ones with legal status lie paralyzed from fear.

4. Because we want to come out of the shadows

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It's time for us to come out of the shadows of using someone else's Social Security Card/Number so that we prove how much we contribute to our communities.

5. Because we can't wait anymore

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The congressional inaction on immigration reform makes us doubt whether there will be a pathway for legalization beyond us: our parents, friends who didn't make the cutoff. we see Deferred Action for All as a solution for our communities.