NEXT UP! 2 50 Illegal life THE DREAM Around 2.4 million undocumented immigrant kids live in the US – 2.4 million. Every year, 98,000 students who live in America without legal permission graduate from American high schools. 44 per cent of these students live in California or Texas. Many of these students were brought to the United States at a very young age or were even born in the US once their parents had arrived. Because they settled in America “illegally”, they do not have the documents needed to live a normal life. Without an American birth certificate or residency permit (Green Card), they cannot get a driver’s license, access Social Security, vote, or work legally. In the US, the so-called “Green Card” grants you the right to live and work on a permanent basis. It is very difficult for these students to afford or gain access to university education or find well-paid work. It is equally difficult for them to even have meaningful lives, lives that have been a very American experience. They face the daily fear of being deported to countries with cultures, traditions and even languages that they may have never known. For them, the American Dream is not within easy reach. In 2012, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, used his executive powers to introduce the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Obama granted a two-year hold on deportation and much-hoped-for work permits for 728,000 very relieved young people. After the first two years, their status can be renewed for another two years. Sadly, for the thousands of young people affected, in 2017 President Trump cancelled the program. Court orders have helped undocumented graduates stay and work, but no new graduates may apply. Hopefully, the American Dream will become a reality for them in the future. further reading Before reading What do you know about the situation for immigrants coming to the USA? Freewrite for a couple of minutes. Read the title and the first sentence of each paragraph. What is the topic and purpose of this text? What text types are used? Write at least three sentences. a birth certificate – fæðingarvottorð a residency permit – dvalarleyfi a driver’s license – ökuskírteini to access – hér: fá aðgang að Social Security – almannatryggingar to gain – öðlast to face – hér: standa frammi fyrir within reach – innan seilingar executive powers – forsetavald deferred – frestað a hold – hér: stöðvun a work permit – atvinnuleyfi relieved – feginn to be renewed – verða endurnýjað a court order – dómsúrskurður a graduate – útskriftarnemi to apply – sækja um
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