As DACA turns 11, here's a look at what has changed for undocumented immigrants in Arizona
Thursday marks the 11th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA, which since 2012 has allowed hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S.
According to the New American Economy, formerly the American Immigration Council, as of 2022 there were nearly 37,000 DACA-eligible undocumented residents in Arizona. And while the program has offered a sliver of relief for some, activists have sought to create a permanent pathway for recipients, and all undocumented folks, to remain in the country.
DACA has seen constant challenges in the eleven years it has existed, leaving beneficiaries, known as Dreamers, in a constant state of uncertainty and fear. Court rulings from federal judges and administration changes have weakened the program, limiting its access and putting into question its legal standing.
Irasema Coronado, director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, said that the uncertainty will continue to take its toll on undocumented people until there's a "champion that says let’s do this”.
“A bold politician will need to say this is important, these young people are worth it, and let me help them achieve their goal,” Coronado said.
A Dreamer's Guide: What is DACA and who is eligible?
Despite the constant legal challenges, however, in the decade since its implementation, undocumented immigrants have seen a number of changes that have reshaped lives and the outlook of an entire state.
Here's a look at what has changed for immigrants living in Arizona since DACA began.
What is DACA?
In 2012, President Barack Obama’s administration signed an executive order creating the program. This was meant to minimize the number of deportations for people that had come to the United States when they were children and did not have legal residency or citizenship.
DACA allows recipients, known as “Dreamers,” to remain in the country, obtain work permits and get health insurance if offered by the individual's employer.
Advantages for participants in the program include pursuing higher education, getting driver’s licenses in some states and growing their respective careers. Attaining DACA, however, does not guarantee or create a pathway to citizenship, and recipients have to pay a fee and file paperwork every two years to renew.
'Show me your papers' law forces action
In 2010, Arizona implemented one of its strictest immigration policies: Senate Bill 1070, also known as the “show me your papers” law, which allowed law enforcement to demand immigration documents of people they stopped based on “reasonable suspicion.”
SB 1070 made being in the country illegally a state crime. It also made it illegal to fail to carry immigration papers, barred people from hiring or knowingly transporting unauthorized immigrants and allowed police to detain anyone suspected of being undocumented, among other provisions.
But those who remained in the state told The Arizona Republic they feared reporting crimes — including domestic violence — to law enforcement, afraid that officers would ask immigration questions that would eventually lead to their deportation, forcing them to live in the shadows during the first years of the law's implementation.
The law was met with boycotts and protests in Phoenix and across the U.S., and at least 100,000 immigrants without legal status left Arizona, affecting multiple sectors of the state's economy. The law was partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012.
Consular registration cards become official form of ID
In early 2021, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law Senate Bill 1420. The bill declares Mexico’s consular registration card (matrícula consular) an official form of identification.
The consular card is a document issued by the Consular Offices that certifies the nationality and identity of a person as a Mexican residing abroad. It's used to identify residents with some local governments and Mexican authorities.
Arizona governments must now recognize cards issued by countries that use strict biometric identity verification techniques — such as Mexico — as valid forms of identification.
There is a $33 fee to obtain the card and recipients must renew every five years. Arizona has five Mexican consuls (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Nogales and Douglas). The matrícula consular, unlike a passport, must be issued in the county where a person lives.
Prop. 308 grants in-state tuition to undocumented students
During the last general election in November 2022, Arizona passed Proposition 308.
After a 2006 referendum barred Dreamers from receiving in-state tuition, community groups and organizations like Aliento, urged lawmakers to reconsider. By May 2021, the Arizona Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 1044 which launched Proposition 308 to voters last November.
Under the proposition, any college student, regardless of their legal status in the U.S., qualifies for in-state tuition if they graduated from an Arizona high school and have lived in the state for two years prior. The proposition also allows students to receive state-funded aid like grants and scholarships.
While in-state tuition access took effect soon after Proposition 308 passed, the process to provide financial aid to "Dreamers" is taking longer as Arizona’s public colleges and universities come up with a system to determine financial need and distribute aid.
Prop. 308: Arizona universities still implementing system to provide state financial aid to 'Dreamers'
Hobbs promises $40 million Dreamer scholarship
Earlier this year, Gov. Katie Hobbs hosted students with the community group Aliento and told them about her push for funding a $40 million scholarship available to anyone regardless of immigration status.
As previously reported by The Arizona Republic, Hobbs said the scholarship is “right in line with the will of the voters who voted to ensure that you would have in-state tuition to help provide more accessibility to college."
"Earlier this year, I proposed that we expand scholarships to Dreamers and undocumented students who want to go to one of Arizona's universities," Hobbs said during a June event in which she celebrated Latino initiatives across the state. "And I am so pleased to be able to share that the Arizona Board of Regents have made a commitment to ensure that Dreamers will have greater access to scholarships that will make their college education more affordable at ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona."
The future of DACA
For many Dreamers, DACA was always a temporary solution. Blanca Collazo, an organizer for Living United for Change in Arizona and a Dreamer, said that DACA is nothing more than “a band-aid” on a bigger problem.
A DACA recipient for over six years, Collazo said the program was never meant to be permanent. She worries because of the lack of security DACA provides.
“What we need is a pathway to citizenship,” Collazo said, “We are celebrating 11 years of DACA and it's something that’s really beautiful, but at the same time we’re hearing about the DACA litigations and hearings. It's difficult because I can be here right now and in the next few years, not be.”
The Department of Homeland Security is not processing new applications for DACA. Those currently enrolled are still able to live and work in the U.S. and can renew, however, new legal challenges continue to put this action on shaky ground.
In the event that Congress is unable to pass legislation, the fate of DACA and Dreamers will likely be at the hands of the Supreme Court next year.
Republic reporter Rafael Carranza contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: From SB 1070 to Dreamer scholarships: 11 years of DACA and changes in Arizona
