DELAWARE - "United We Are Dreaming," a new documentary by Teleduction, a Delaware production company, explores the lives of five individuals who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16.
The film shares the stories of Carlos, Miguel, Dyala, Alicia, and Maria, who were brought to the U.S. as children by undocumented parents. Growing up in the U.S., they attended local K-12 schools and have since advanced to college, military service, and employment.
Sharon Baker, the film's producer, was inspired to create the documentary when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) was introduced.
"When the executive order for DACA was created in 2012, we said, 'Oh, this would make a great story. We need to tell this,' but we weren't able to do it until 2019," she said. "Then, the pandemic hit, so as you'll see in the film, the first few scenes are done on Zoom."
DACA recipient Iván Carrillo, who arrived in the U.S. from Mexico as a one-year-old, reflects on the positive impact of the program.
"It's actually great to see people be able to be successful. There are a few students who have graduated with a bachelor's degree, so that's awesome, and just to see how, how much DACA has been really able to help all these different people that are in the same situation as me," he said.
Baker says the film highlights these individuals' valuable contributions to American society.
"These are exactly the kind of people that this country needs and wants to be citizens here," she said.
The documentary shows how these individuals have found success in their careers.