The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals -which is a kind of administrative relief from deportation- was created with the purpose to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from deportation.
DACA not only gives young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation, also a work permit is part of the program that expires after two years, and is subject to renewal.
After the Trump administration formally announced the end of DACA -the 2012 program implemented by President Barack Obama- DREAMers all around the United States are in fear, worried about what the future holds.
It is normal for the nearly 800,000 DREAMers and their families to be asking themselves "What now?" Historian, philosopher, and consultant, Kendrick Mercer, shared with Latin Times how they can deal with the stress and fear of this unfortunate situation.
According to Mercer, besides broken promises, natural disasters, market uncertainty, inflamed egos and unrealistic expectations create a state of panic and concern.
"Fear is like a tornado that picks up energy from our attention and debris from past experiences as it sweeps through our lives. But it’s ineffective to spend our time managing fear, feeding fear, or overthinking our problems when we could be making actual progress toward our goals," said Mercer who has provided more than fifty years of coaching to thousands of people and has an extensive knowledge of history, anthropology, evolution, psychology, and science.
To manage fear, Mercer recommends to follow the tips below:
- Be in the moment: Anxiety is wrapping its fingers around your throat? Pour yourself a glass of water. Sit down. Drink your water. Breathe. Relax and center yourself. Your mind may be busy with thoughts about the future but ignore them. For now, just immerse yourself in the present. Honestly, this doesn’t have to be a big deal. You could also shut your eyes for a second and check in. You’re a human being sitting in a room.
- See the truth of the moment. After getting present, wait patiently for clarity. See what is real in your situation. Objectively true. This clarity will enable you to respond in a manner that is not driven by your nerves.
- Respond spontaneously and appropriately. If you are in school or at work, and find yourself with too many tasks, and feeling paralyzed. Pick the easiest thing and do that first. Then pick the next easiest. And then the next. You’ll gain confidence and momentum as you go forward.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
