--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not…" description: "\"In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not knowing that they weren't citizens because they were American in every way except on paper. When they sought ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_american_in-fact-many-daca-recipients-grew-up-not_2512835.jpg" --- # In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not knowing that… ![“In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not knowing that they weren't citizens because they were American in every way except on paper. When they sought driver's licenses or applied to college, many learned of their status for the first time, and the limitless opportunities they dreamed of suddenly…” quote by Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_american_in-fact-many-daca-recipients-grew-up-not_2512835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_american_in-fact-many-daca-recipients-grew-up-not_2512835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_american_in-fact-many-daca-recipients-grew-up-not_2512835.jpg) > “In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not knowing that they weren't citizens because they were American in every way except on paper. When they sought driver's licenses or applied to college, many learned of their status for the first time, and the limitless opportunities they dreamed of suddenly dimmed.” [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many DACA youths discover their undocumented status only when confronting bureaucratic hurdles, shattering their aspirations. **In simple terms:** Young undocumented Americans learn their status too late, limiting dreams. Key Takeaway Recognize and address hidden legal barriers early. Themes immigration identity opportunity policy youth Mood concerned hopeful reflective Type policy social narrative When to use this quote - college enrollment - driver's license applications - employment - housing - community support Key Concepts legal status social integration dreams bureaucracy Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions better inform undocumented youth of their status? - What support structures can mitigate sudden opportunity loss? A Different Perspective Systemic delays in status verification can exacerbate trauma and limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-american-1172281/) [Daca Recipients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daca-recipients-1172278/) [Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driver/) [Fact Daca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-daca-1172279/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weren Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weren-citizens-1172280/) ## Related quotes > [Look, the ultimate goal is to encourage legal immigration. DACA recipients have had their status in limbo for too long and they deserve a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/look-the-ultimate-goal-is-to-encourage-legal-immigration-daca/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [I want to raise awareness about evils perpetuated on American citizens by other American citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/i-want-to-raise-awareness-about-evils-perpetuated-on-american/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [DACA recipients risk a lot to come out of the shadows & sign up, but many will tell you the risk is worth being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/daca-recipients-risk-a-lot-to-come-out-of-the-shadows-sign-up-but/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [My fellow citizens, the American Presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/my-fellow-citizens-the-american-presidency-is-not-supposed-to-be-a/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [“The most insightful thing I ever heard, was overheard. I was waiting for a rail replacement bus in Hackney Wick. These two old women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-most-insightful-thing-i-ever-heard-was-overheard-i-was-waiting/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [I am a control freak back seat driver; a map reading co-pilot who directs every turn of the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-am-a-control-freak-back-seat-driver-a-map-reading-co-pilot-who/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [People say I'm bad at a lot of things. One I agree with is that I'm a bad driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/people-say-i-m-bad-at-a-lot-of-things-one-i-agree-with-is-that-i-m-a/) [Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/) > [It's been 23 years since the last Swede in Formula One, so for me to be the next F1 driver at all these races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-ericsson/it-s-been-23-years-since-the-last-swede-in-formula-one-so-for-me-to/) [Marcus Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-ericsson/) > [Kimi is a great driver like Fernando, but together, they could be a time bomb for Ferrari.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-eric-vergne/kimi-is-a-great-driver-like-fernando-but-together-they-could-be-a/) [Jean-Eric Vergne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-eric-vergne/) > [I think our sport is much better off with a successful female driver in NASCAR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/i-think-our-sport-is-much-better-off-with-a-successful-female-driver/) [Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/) > [I'd be a race car driver. I love fast cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/i-d-be-a-race-car-driver-i-love-fast-cars/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [“But this bus was a bit too full. The driver only appeared to control the glass and metal around him. In reality, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-spaid/but-this-bus-was-a-bit-too-full-the-driver-only-appeared-to-control/) [Graham Spaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-spaid/) > [If I had to pick favourite parts of Interlagos, I would say the first and last corners. The first corner is really technical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/if-i-had-to-pick-favourite-parts-of-interlagos-i-would-say-the-first/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [All the questions, all the speculation, No. 2 driver and so on, it doesn't get to me. It doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/all-the-questions-all-the-speculation-no-2-driver-and-so-on-it-doesn/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) ## More by Alejandro Mayorkas > [I'm a political refugee, and my identity as a political refugee was extraordinarily important to my upbringing. And my parents were very focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-m-a-political-refugee-and-my-identity-as-a-political-refugee-was/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The impact of climate change, extreme weather events, the reason people are fleeing their homes is quite significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-impact-of-climate-change-extreme-weather-events-the-reason-people/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [I felt like the luckiest kid in the world with the parents I had. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-felt-like-the-luckiest-kid-in-the-world-with-the-parents-i-had/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We are deeply concerned about false narratives, ideologies of hate that are fueled by conversations and messages on online platforms and other social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-deeply-concerned-about-false-narratives-ideologies-of-hate/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The love for this country that I learned from my parents made the January 6 attack on the Capitol all the more horrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-love-for-this-country-that-i-learned-from-my-parents-made-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Never underestimate the talent and dedication of the Department of Homeland Security workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/never-underestimate-the-talent-and-dedication-of-the-department-of/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We are working with the office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in addressing the challenges with the social media companies to ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-working-with-the-office-of-civil-rights-and-civil-liberties-in/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Horses can traverse terrain that might not otherwise be covered. In fact, horses are often used to not only assess a situation, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/horses-can-traverse-terrain-that-might-not-otherwise-be-covered-in/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [It's quite challenging in dealing with a country like Venezuela, where the diplomatic relations, if they exist at all, can be strained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/it-s-quite-challenging-in-dealing-with-a-country-like-venezuela-where/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [When a recipient of DACA suffers the expiration of the DACA, that individual is no longer lawfully present in the United States. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/when-a-recipient-of-daca-suffers-the-expiration-of-the-daca-that/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [I oversee three agencies and thousands - tens of thousands of individuals who focus on our immigration system and fixing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-oversee-three-agencies-and-thousands-tens-of-thousands-of/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We have asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief. Those who qualify under those laws are entitled to the relief that we extend. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-have-asylum-laws-that-provide-humanitarian-relief-those-who/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) [Explore all 98 Alejandro Mayorkas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. 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The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In fact, many DACA recipients grew up not knowing that they weren't citizens because they were American in every way except on paper. 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