They are not just
numbers. These are people. They are people, many of whom we have trusted to be a
part of our country, to uphold its word, when they basically enrolled
to be a part of the DACA program. Just today, I spoke to two DREAMers in my office. One of them is a
remarkable young person, currently getting her Ph.D. in physics--she is
27 years old--at the University of California, Merced, focusing her
research on solar energy. Just think about this: helping America with the next generation of
our energy development. Her name is Bo. She hopes to work in renewable energy when she gets
her Ph.D., but now with the possible removal of DACA, her future is
uncertain. She came here when she was 3 years old. Her DACA protections
expire in less than 1 year. Another DREAMer I spoke to today was a student body president while
working on his bachelor's degree at Fresno State, my alma mater. His
name is Pedro. He has graduated now. He has earned his master's degree
in public policy and urban affairs and is contributing to the economy
of our valley and to our State. His DACA protections expire within
months. Think about that. Think about the gravity of these two students, Bo
and Pedro. In less than a year, they don't know if they are going to be
here. This is their country, as far as they are concerned. Our DREAMers have shared stories time and time again of uncertainty
and fear that is gripping their families and our communities as they
are forced to wait and see if the only home that they have ever known,
this country, will keep its word when they enrolled in the DACA program
and create the protections that allow them to stay here and ultimately
become citizens. That is the question. That is what we are trying to achieve.