Since a child, I dreamt of flying high as an Airman in the Air Force. Participating in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC), I was fully devoted to committing my life to serving this country, only to be turned away because of my DACA status. Just like around 800,000 other DACA recipients (Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), I was brought to the United States as a child, and for most of us, this country has since become our home.

Yet as a rights-holders of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), we have no clear pathway to citizenship, hindering us from contributing to society in meaningful ways. This includes being denied the opportunity to enlist in any branch of the U.S Armed Forces - Navy, Marine Corps, Army, or Air Force. Despite the Supreme Court ruling that DACA cannot be ended abruptly (Source: Department of Homeland Security vs. Regents of the University of California) and acknowledging the positive contribution DACA recipients make, there have been no changes to allow DACA recipients to enlist.

DACA recipients should not just be allowed to live in America, but to serve America. Let's end the unjust barriers faced by DACA recipients, and allow them to fulfill their dreams of serving and protecting their home. They should be evaluated by their dedication to serve, not by their immigration status. Sign the petition, let's fight for the rights of DACA recipients to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.