As of March 18,2021, the House of Representatives has voted on a bill that would not only provide a path for citizenship for DACA recipients but for agricultural farm workers with an undocumented background. This is the first of many progresses made for the undocumented community as this will bring many a sense of stability within their households, financial, and mental health statuses.
For many DACA and undocumented households, the topic of deportation is one that takes prescedence over any action made. Families fear every day about being torn apart and being forced into a life they fled when embarking on their journey to the United States. With the introduction of this new bill, as many as 3.4 million families and DACA recipients all over will be able to have a geared track to citizenship, therefore garnering security that was not present before. This is one of many monumental accomplishments for the undocumented and DACA community as the overall citizenship application process can be very overbearing on many families mentally and financially.
With a steady path to citizenship, there is room for more opportunity than ever for this affected minority group. Many individuals may now be able to qualify for certain social programs that require residency, be able to expand on their own occupational abilities, and even be able to pursue higher education pursuits without having to weave through previous obstacles that deter DACA recipients and undocumented individuals alike. In providing a path to citizenship, there is also a sense of relief in terms of those who are already facing the effects and impacts of acculturated stress throughout post-migration.
Although the bill must now make its way through the senate, there is much promise for what it entails for the future of the undocumented community. This bill would allow DACA recipients to qualify for permanent citizenship if they have resided in the United States since January of this year as well as grant a specialized blue card work permit for undocumented agricultural workers who have proof of work for 180 days in the past two years to which they can then apply for a green card and then on to permanent residency. Additionally, this new bill would also grant deportation protections to the families of undocumented agricultural workers via the blue card. With much progress made, we are on our way to finding relief and opportunity for our affected undocumented communities.
