From The DREAM Act To DACA, The Debate Continues 20 Years Later

May 6, 2021
Supreme Court ImmigrationSupreme Court ImmigrationAlex Brandon/AP
People rally outside the Supreme Court as oral arguments are heard in the case of then-President Trump's decision to end the Obama-era, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, at the Supreme Court in Washington.

Young immigrants have sought a pathway to citizenship in the U.S. for decades. April marked the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the DREAM Act into Congress. Since that bill was proposed, DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, took effect, but it's still in limbo. We learn how DACA got its roots in Denver, and get perspective from Marissa Molina, the Colorado Director for FWD.us, who advocates for immigration policy reform. She's also a DACA recipient. Efrain Leal Escalera is also a DACA recipient. He's a college student, artist, and amateur biologist.