By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
More than 3 million Dreamers, more than 3 million stories. In June 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. Those who qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) became known as Dreamers.
In 2017, the first Donald Trump administration attempted to rescind DACA. Litigation was not finalized before the Joe Biden administration took office in 2021 and restored former DACA protections. In 2025, the Trump administration is again making changes to protections for non-United States citizens.
Many Great Bend residents are now feeling the impacts of the decisions being made in Washington. Carmen Garcia (as the woman wishes to remain anonymous, a pseudonym will be used) has lived in Great Bend since her parents illegally moved to the United States when Garcia was just four years old.
"I've always known it was different," she said. "From a very young age, I think it was just engraved into me that, because I was different, I had to act a certain way. I've carried that through adolescence and into adulthood now."
As non-residents, if her parents drove her to school, they did so without a license. They were unable to get health insurance. They were unable to apply for any other federal benefits afforded to low-income earners in the United States.
Garcia felt the differences amplified at various times in her life, including when she became old enough to drive without a license. She was unable to work at any job requiring a valid social security number and often resorted to jobs like babysitting.
"When I was applying for colleges, that was definitely one of the biggest challenges I remember," she said. "While a lot of other people were applying for FAFSA and different types of grants, that was never an option for me."
Still, Garcia was able to attend a 4-year college. She was still in college when the original DACA law was passed in 2012. Even then, it took courage to approach a government office and admit her non-resident status. With help from an attorney, she began the arduous task of applying for legal status. She contacted her former schools, including her elementary school, for attendance records and grade reports.
"You have to prove that you were here and that you stayed here," she said, "so pretty much from when I was five until I was in my 20s, I had to prove that every year I was here and never left."
Garcia was recently given 5-year DACA protection but most Dreamers must apply for legal status every two years, as did Garcia before. Applicants must prove they have not left the country, have a clean criminal record, show their income and expenditures, and prove they are in school or employed. Each time, application fees and attorney costs can easily exceed $1,000.
"On top of the cost thing, it does become a time thing," Garcia said. "They just tell you when to show up for your appointment. If you can't make it work, you have to go through this whole application process again and tell them why you need a new appointment. While the cost is a big factor, so is time."
Garcia graduated college and ultimately moved back to Great Bend where is a wife and mother and has a well-paying job. She pays income taxes just like U.S. citizens but she cannot vote. Before marriage, she could not get a bank loan.
"Even if you have great credit, banks are very hesitant to give you any type of loan," she said. "They look at your status and think, well, in two years you might not even be here so why would we give you a loan for several years?"
Despite living in the United States for decades and being married to a U.S. citizen with children who are U.S. citizens, Garcia still has not met the residency requirements under DACA to earn her own citizenship. She must get permission to leave the country and has been denied, and there's always the weight of not being a protected citizen.
"I think the hardest part for me is, just from a young age, we're told to stay under the radar, don't get in trouble, and don't have an opinion," Garcia said. "That's a very hard thing, I think, for me. I would like to think I'm a good, contributing citizen, especially to the community. When you see a large section of the community saying hurtful things, you can't step up and defend yourself. It's almost like you're crucified for that.
"It's also knowing that while I'm married to a U.S. citizen and my children are U.S. citizens, nothing is granted. Until I have a residency card or full-on citizenship, I think there's just always that fear.
As difficult as being a Dreamer can be, Garcia is at least afforded many of the same advantages as American citizens while living in the United States. Luis Gomez (another pseudonym) has little to no protection. When his parents felt life in Mexico was too dangerous, they moved the family to the United States.
"We were seeking a safer life full of opportunities, so my parents took a leap of faith and moved to the United States," Gomez said. "My family came to the United States with only $200. But luckily, we had help from others and were able to get on our feet despite coming here with basically nothing."
As a child, Gomez had to learn a new language and adapt to the new culture and lifestyle to fit in. A Great Bend High School graduate, he is now a college student but it has not been an easy road.
"We always have had some sort of struggle going on," he said. "But the struggle that has affected us the most is financial struggles. In today’s world, it is very hard to find jobs that are willing to take illegal immigrants, therefore making it hard for my family to consistently provide us with stuff we need."
Like Garcia, Gomez has to pay all of his college tuition and fees out of pocket, which is difficult given the inability to find a good job.
"It takes a lot of hard work and countless hours to stay here, but my parents are willing to put everything on the line to give me a better life than what they had in Mexico. My father always told me we were different and have to be twice as cautious because it feels like someone or something is always out to get us."
Gomez remains optimistic about his situation. He knows certain employers give jobs to undocumented workers but also knows those are rare and risky.
Because of timing issues, Gomez does not qualify to be a Dreamer. His options of becoming a legal resident are limited and include the naturalization process or the passage of new legislation.