DACA Argument Essay The New Colossus

Over 100 years ago, poet Emma Lazarus wrote:” Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This part of her poem “The New Colossus” embodies the spirit of the Statue of Liberty’s significance to the undocumented youth of America and thousands of hopeful people of the world seeking a new life. With the DACA program, undocumented youth of our country can enjoy a part of what it means to be a citizen of the U.S.A.

Kansas resident Juan Sanchez who came to this country with his family from Mexico when he was two, is one of the many youths who was given DACA status. He graduated with honors from Kansas City Kansas Community College in spring of 2015. Through a program of University of Missouri-Kansas City
Denying DACA students the opportunity to attend college while also excluding them from states scholarship funds creates an unfair barrier to a higher education and better future. In defense of these bills the state of Missouri claims that the money they will save by denying these benefits to DACA students will reduce immigration to the state, and allow other citizens to benefit from state aid. Though these benefits to the state do not, and can not outweigh the costs to DACA students that are denied access to a higher education. With the help of private donors, the University of Missouri Kansas City was able to secure funds to cover the difference between instate and out-of-state tuition to Juan Sanchez and twenty other admitted DACA students. However, this funding only covered one semester, DACA students are forced to find another solution to pay this amount of money or quit school. The article concludes with Peleger stating “DACA beneficiary students in Missouri are confronted with a new reality: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free – but first, show me your legal