The Attack on DACA

I recently read an interesting article in Inside Higher Ed called DACA as a Teachable Moment.  The author teaches debate at community college, and he begins the article with a principle he says he teaches his students: when formulating an argument, seek out the strongest arguments for the opposing side.  This helps the students to think critically about their own argument because:

1. they understand the opposing side's viewpoint and logic,
2. they are prepared for what the opposing side will say during the debate, and can have counter-arguments ready, and
3. they've really thought through the topic.

I like how this sets the article up for the author's discussion about DACA, and what is being said by those who are want to get rid of it.  The author attempts to come up with the opposing side's strongest arguments for deporting these children, and finds either racism or flawed logic at the heart of each of the arguments.  I found the example of his parents moving from Maine to New York when he was two years old striking; the author talks about how little control and understanding he would have had about the move at the time.  He says

If you substitute “Mexico” for “Maine,” the anti-DACA position holds that the erstwhile toddler should be held criminally responsible. That’s a tough position to defend.

I'm sure there are older children who might better understand what's happening when entering the United States, but that doesn't really change the situation much, as in most states you are not legally an adult until the age of 18, and therefore these children would still be considered dependent upon the adults who brought them into the country.  I've even read about children who entered this country alone, but in this case, where they are knowingly entering the United States illegally, think of what they must have left, what must have propelled them, as a child and all alone, to enter a new country where they would be facing all sorts of new challenges and dangers.

The author reminds the reader that the majority of Americans are immigrants, some of whom entered this country illegally (and in the case of slavery, were forced here).  And so, in that spirit, it seems that we should be more understanding and forgiving, at least in the case of the Dreamers.