DACA WAS TEMPORARY – PAROLE IN PLACE PROGRAM CLOSED – SUPREME COURT ENDED TPS FOR VENEZUELANS

Obama offered DACA (which was never a permanent solution – it was always a temporary measure. Biden offered PIP (Parole in Place) which is now closed. And the Supreme Court just ended TPS (Temporary Protected Status). As these VISAS are revoked so too are all associated work permits.

BY SNN.BZ STAFF

What exactly does this mean? Thanks to Tren De Aragua members that have been hiding behind the Temporary Protected Status, their reputation is far more visible, louder and stronger than the reputation of normal Venezuelans.

If you are from Venezuela and living and working in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status (which allowed you to hold a job) – IT’S OVER. Your status and your ability to hold a job have both ended and you are now subject to deportation.

we want to share a gentle reminder about DACA with all the care in our hearts. DACA (The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, while it was a beautiful gesture of hope, was always designed as a temporary bridge, not a permanent solution.

Obama offered DACA then Biden offered PIP (Parole in Place). PIP is a closed program and the DACA program will never be enforced – not ever.

For those embraced by DACA, it’s understandable to wish for certainty, to dream of roots that grow deep. But the truth, as tender as I can offer it, is that DACA’s protections are fragile, like a butterfly’s wings in a storm.

DACA never had a lasting solution and does not have a solution today. There’s a true, high risk—unfair as it may seem—that someone (anyone), could face detention or deportation, perhaps waiting years to have a hearing that might only set a date for departure.

Let’s hold this reality with kindness, support one another, and advocate for a future where every dreamer’s place is secure. With all my warmth, let’s face this together. But that time is not now. Right now, DACA recipients are being arrested and held in detention centers because they were so comfortable that they refused to leave.

Please take a moment to learn the difference between living in a detention center compared with living in a prison — there is none. Except that once you wind up in a detention center, your children will be immediately separated from you and there is no way to predict in whose hands they’ll wind up.

Since its inception on June 15, 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has offered temporary relief to nearly 835,000 young illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

DACA recipients are referred to as the “Dreamers.” These individuals have built lives, pursued education, and contributed to communities across the nation, often knowing no other home than the USA. However, DACA was always designed as a temporary measure, not a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.

As the program faces ongoing legal challenges and an uncertain future, it’s time to address a difficult but necessary reality: that continuing to rely on DACA’s fragile protections may place Dreamers and their families at risk of significant hardship.

With kindness and respect for the courage of DACA recipients, this article encourages self-deportation as a proactive step to keep families together, avoid detention, and protect the well-being of their children.

Understanding DACA’s Temporary Nature

DACA was introduced by the Obama administration as an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, providing eligible young immigrants with two-year renewable periods of protection from deportation and work authorization. It was a response to the failure of the DREAM Act, which would have offered a path to citizenship for undocumented youth. From the outset, DACA was explicitly temporary, lacking the permanence of legislative reform. Despite its benefits—enabling recipients to work legally, attend school, and live without immediate fear of deportation—it has never guaranteed long-term security or a route to legal status.

The program’s fragility has been underscored by repeated legal challenges. In 2017, the Trump administration attempted to terminate DACA, and while the Supreme Court upheld it in 2020, subsequent rulings, including a September 2023 decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, declared the DACA program unlawful.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ January 17, 2025, ruling allows current recipients to renew but prohibits processing new applications, signaling ongoing uncertainty. With potential Supreme Court review looming by mid-2025, DACA’s future is endangered.

For many Dreamers, the hope that DACA would lead to citizenship has been a guiding light. However, this hope, while understandable, was not grounded in the program’s design. The absence of congressional action to pass the DREAM Act or similar legislation means DACA recipients live in a state of limbo, renewing their status every two years while facing the constant threat of deportation when the program ends. This reality, though painful, calls for a clear-eyed assessment of the best path forward for Dreamers and their families.

The Risks of Remaining in Limbo

The second Trump administration, which began in January 2025, has prioritized immigration enforcement, including policies promoting voluntary departure and expanding detention capacity. Reports indicate plans to detain up to 50,000 immigrants, with proposals for open-air family detention centers and the use of military installations. These developments heighten the risk of arrest, detention, and deportation for what is tenderly referred to as undocumented individuals, including DACA recipients if their protections lapse. An undocumented individual is a nice term to use when referring to an illegal alien.

For Dreamers with U.S.-citizen children or mixed-status families, the stakes are even higher. Deportation or detention could lead to family separation, with children potentially placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or other social services.

Studies show that the detention or deportation of a parent increases the risk of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, in children. A 2020 study found that children of detained or deported parents exhibited signs of PTSD, including difficulty sleeping and heightened fear. Entrusting children to unfamiliar social workers or foster care systems can be traumatic, disrupting family bonds and creating long-term emotional harm.

Detention centers also pose significant challenges. Research highlights poor conditions, inadequate medical care, and high levels of psychiatric distress among detainees, including children. The financial and emotional toll of detention, combined with the uncertainty of immigration proceedings, can destabilize families. By contrast, self-deportation offers a way to avoid these risks, allowing families to leave on their own terms and maintain unity.

The Benefits of Self-Deportation

Self-deportation, while a difficult decision, provides a dignified and practical option for DACA recipients to protect their families and plan for the future. The Trump administration has promoted voluntary departure through tools like the rebranded CBP Home app, which facilitates self-deportation processes.

While no formal stipend program has been implemented as of April 2025, the administration has discussed offering plane tickets and possible pathways for legal reentry in the future, suggesting a structured approach to voluntary departure.

Keeping Your Family Together: By choosing self-deportation, Dreamers can ensure their children remain with them, avoiding the trauma of separation and placement with strangers. Parents retain custody and can make decisions in their children’s best interests, preserving family unity during a challenging transition.

Avoiding Detention: Self-deportation eliminates the risk of arrest and detention, which can be costly, dehumanizing, and unpredictable. Detainees face prolonged uncertainty, limited access to legal resources, and the possibility of expedited removal without a hearing. Leaving voluntarily allows families to bypass these hardships and maintain control over their departure and your family members’ entire lives.

Planning for the Future: Self-deportation enables Dreamers to return to their countries of origin with intention, leveraging their education, skills, and experiences gained in the U.S. Many DACA recipients are fluent in English, hold degrees, and have professional expertise, making them valuable contributors to their home countries’ economies. This proactive step can lay the groundwork for stability and opportunity abroad.

Reducing Emotional Strain: Living under the constant threat of DACA’s termination takes a heavy toll. A 2020 study found that DACA recipients experienced significant distress from the program’s instability, with 40.7% meeting clinical cutoffs for PTSD-like symptoms following termination announcements. Self-deportation offers closure, allowing families to move forward without the fear of sudden upheaval.

A Path Forward with Dignity

The decision to self-deport is deeply personal and undeniably difficult. The reality of DACA’s temporary status and the escalating enforcement landscape urge a compassionate but firm reconsideration of staying in the U.S.

To those who have dreamed of a permanent home here, you must be fully aware that the risks of waiting for a legislative solution that may never come—while facing potential detention and family separation—are too great.

By using tools like the CBP Home app and choosing voluntary departure, you can protect your children from the uncertainty of social services, avoid the trauma of detention (which could be years), and you’ll be taking charge of your family’s future.

Taking the Next Step

If you are a DACA recipient, do not give your money to a lawyer. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) DACA webpage provides guidance on requesting consideration for deferred action, but also explore voluntary departure resources.

The CBP Home app, available through official government channels, can streamline the self-deportation process. Community organizations, such as the National Immigrant Justice Center, offer support and information to navigate these choices.

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Your family’s unity and your children’s well-being are paramount. By choosing self-deportation, you can leave with dignity, keeping your loved ones close and building a new chapter on your terms. This is not the end of your story, but a courageous step toward a future where your family remains whole and your legacy endures.