In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, I am reflecting on what I am thankful for. Like most Americans, I am grateful for many things, but right now, I am especially appreciative to live in this beautiful country I call home.
As a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, I am fortunate to have been granted the opportunity to step out of the shadows and contribute to my community by legally working and studying here.
However, the DACA program was recently halted, creating uncertainty for my future once my current permit expires. It is a difficult time for me and the nearly 800,000 other Dreamers in the U.S., but I am hopeful this will not be my last Thanksgiving here.
Thankfully, there has been growing support from both sides of the aisle for a legislative solution, particularly the bipartisan Dream Act. This bill would create an earned pathway to citizenship for all of us hardworking Dreamers who meet certain criteria.
I am thankful that Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee have both expressed support for Dreamers. I remain hopeful they will stand up for us in Washington and work to get the Dream Act passed this year.
Alonso R. Reyna Rivarola, M.Ed, Taylorsville