GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- For years young adults known as dreamers, immigrants born in another country but grew up in the United States, have been fighting for the chance to live the American dream legally. A federal program called DACA provided the blueprint for that to over half of a million people since 2012.
"When I was in high school I was told I couldn't go to college and that I wasn't going to be able to work because of my status," says Armando Torres of Green Bay who now has a degree in business management in part due to DACA.
There are many others who furthered their opportunities because of DACA. Jose Del Rio came to Green Bay at two-years-old and has benefited from the program as well.
"DACA gives me an opportunity to work, to continue my education here within my community and continue living here where I grew up," says Del Rio.
Recipients of DACA have to maintain a clean criminal record, pay annual dues every year and a half to stay in compliance and maintain a steady job or enroll in schooling. But for many dreamers, that's what they have been striving for since childhood.
"This is the community I grew up in, this the country I know. I don't know any other country. This is where I want to stay and continue living my dreams," adds Del Rio who has a fire technician specialist degree and wants to become a firefighter.
On Thursday morning, dreamers across the country found out, at least for now, that the Supreme Court will not allow the shutdown of the DACA program. The ruling was a massive relief for an estimated half of million-plus dreamers.
"A lot of people underestimate us and what we're capable of doing but at the end of the day we want to give back to our community and serve our community," says Del Rio.
The Supreme Court did not say President Trump can't end the program, just that his administration went about it the wrong way. So now, his administration will have to decide whether to keep it or end it a different way.
