SWOK OUR DREAM

Empowering dreams, building futures

Welcome to OUR DREAM, a personal organization dedicated to supporting undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. We believe in providing opportunities for legal protection, advocating for rights, and providing pathways to citizenship. Join us in making a difference.

DACA

DACA is a movement that can be traced to the early 2000s with legislative efforts such as the DREAM Act, first introduced in 2001, which would have provided conditional residency to undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as minors. (Library of Congress, n.d.; Delgado, 2020). In 20210, youth organizers and undocumented students launched acts of civil disobedience, including the "Trail of Dreams," a 1,500-mile walk from Miami to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for the DREAM Act.

In the United States, the movement of Dreamers has grown as a significant social movement, linking immigration reform, educational access, labor rights, and youth activism. Understanding this movement is critical because it involves hundreds of thousands of individuals who contribute to American society yet lack stable legal status. It also highlights structural issues in U.S. immigration law and the role of youth-led activism in shaping public policy.

Individuals and organizations

Cristina Jiménez Moreta- Co-founder of the youth-led organization United We Dream, which advocates for immigrant youth and mobilizes Dreamers across the U.S.

Julian (J.) Escobar, Felipe Matos, Gaby Pacheco, Carlos Roa- Among students who undertook the Trail of Dreams march in 2010

Unites We Dream- A major immigrant-youth-led network (400,000+ members) that has organized actions, provided legal support, and driven policy advocacy for Dreamers.

Other allied organizations- such as Dream Activist, Presente.org, and higher-education groups that worked to support undocumented students and lobby for policy changes.

Why the Movement Matters

The Dreamer movement matters. First, individuals eligible under programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) have lived much of their lives in the U.S., often identifying as American in community, schooling, and culture, yet face the constant threat of deportation (American Immigration Council, 2024). Second, the movement raises fundamental questions about fairness, equity, immigration policy, and the role of youth activism in democracy. Third, the movement has economic implications: individuals protected by DACA can work, pay taxes, and contribute to society rather than live in fear and exclusion (American Immigration Council, 2024).

Core Goals

Securing legal status or a clear pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth.
Achieving protection from deportation and access to work authorization.
Increasing access to higher education, in-state tuition, scholarships, and removal of barriers to educational opportunity.
Recognizing the contributions of Dreamers and securing equal rights in employment, labor protections, and social participation.

Outcomes and Legacy

Implementation of DACA: As of 2024, DACA has enabled hundreds of thousands of eligible young adults to work lawfully, attend school, and plan their lives with some measure of protection from deportation. (American Immigration Council, 2024)
Greater public awareness and legitimacy of undocumented youth issues: Dreams have been elevated in public discourse, humanizing the impact of immigration law on families and communities.
Legal protections and case law: The Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in DHS v. Regents affirmed that the U.S. government must provide reasoned explanations if it seeks to rescind DACA. (Wikipedia contributors, 2024)
Continuing challenges: The movement still lacks a permanent legislative path to citizenship for Dreamers. DACA remains vulnerable to legal and political shifts. (American Immigration Council, 2024; Bipartisan Policy Center, 2021)
Social and economic contributions: Dreamers fill essential roles in the U.S. economy, pay taxes, attend college, and often serve in high-need professions such as health care, education, and public service. (AP News editorial, 2024)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a United States immigration policy that allows some individuals who, on June 15, 2012, were physically present in the United States with no lawful immigration status after having entered the country as children at least five years earlier, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for an employment authorization document (work permit)Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a United States immigration policy that allows some individuals who, on June 15, 2012, were physically present in the United States with no lawful immigration status after having entered the country as children at least five years earlier, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for an employment authorization document (work permit)

Real stories, real impact

Discover the transformative impact DACA has had on Blanca (Fuentes)Barbro, a DACA recipient who applied in June of 2012, one of the 573,000 applicants that year. Blanca arrived in the United States at 4 years old. Owns her own bookkeeping business and is an outstanding citizen. She has been a successful business owner since 2019, is married, and has a beautiful daughter who is a US citizen.

"DACA has been instrumental in helping me navigate the legal process and pursue my education. I am so grateful for their support!"

Blanca Barbro

"Thanks to Our Dream, I was able to access resources and connect with a community that understands my struggles. They gave me hope and a path forward."

Jesus Fuentes

"I can't thank DACA enough for their advocacy efforts. They are fighting for the rights of undocumented youth and making a real difference in our lives."

Sofia Garcia