DREAMers’ Perceptions of Relational Impacts After DACA

DREAMers, undocumented people raised in the US, discussed their perspectives on changes in relational dynamics after access to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legislation. Ten participants, who through semi-structured interviews, discussed how DACA legislation impacted their mixed-legal status families. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with Participatory Action Research and Systems Theory frameworks, themes emerged that represented DREAMers' collective experiences and the essence of the phenomenon related to how access to DACA legislation affected relationships. Themes included the superordinate theme, Relational Impacts of DACA and subthemes, Shared Wins and Resources and Mending Relationships. Discussion includes implications for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.