Despite what Trump’s chief of staff said yesterday, American Dreamers represent the best of our nation. Their dedication and determination makes them the perfect example of immigrants achieving the American Dream. Donald Trump and congressional Republicans should be inspired by their stories of success instead of repeatedly denigrating immigrants as criminals.  

American Dreamers are outstanding students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. They are an integral part of their communities and are Americans in every way except on paper.  They deserve the opportunity to continue contributing to their communities and their country. Republicans in Congress must stop playing political games with their lives, and pass a Dream Act now.

These are just a few of the American Dreamers who are symbols of excellence in their communities:

Jesus Contreras is a Houston-area paramedic who worked nonstop for six days in the wake of Hurricane Harvey to save American lives.

“Contreras camped out at a fire station when he wasn't rushing around in an ambulance. He didn't make it back to his house in Spring, a suburb north of Houston, until Thursday afternoon. That's when he turned on the news and heard that President Donald Trump was considering ending the federal program that allowed him to stay and work in the United States.”

Yuriana Aguilar is a biomedical researcher. She was the first DACA recipient to receive a Ph.D.

“Aguilar has lived her entire adult life in the United States, but was brought to this country as an undocumented immigrant when she was five years old. Despite her undocumented status, Aguilar has only ever known the United States. as her home. ‘I love this country and this is what I know,’ she told Bustle.”

Parthiv Patel became the first DACA recipient admitted in the New Jersey bar.

“He is the first undocumented immigrant to join the New Jersey bar, even though his status in the country remains uncertain after President Donald Trump announced an end to the DACA program.

“‘The danger is real, the danger is there…I know people in America are willing to stand up and stand next to me in this fight,’ Patel says.”

Daniela Velez has earned two associates' degrees, in engineering and business administration, and she's now pursuing an undergraduate degree in business administration. Daniela works full-time and is also an entrepreneur.

“In 2016, she invested about $1,500 and co-founded Innovated Lab Designs, which sells take-home kits for physics labs at Rowan College. The kits allow students who can't attend college lab courses to take an online version at home.”

Dulce Garcia and Luis Tinoco are a small business-owning couple. Dulce is a lawyer and runs her own practice that specializes in immigration law. Luis has owned a body shop for the past decade in the same community.

“About 5 percent of DACA recipients have started their own businesses since enrolling in the program, according to the Center for American Progress. Garcia said her legal status under DACA gave her a sense of security.”

Yehimi Cambron graduated from Cross Keys in 2014 and now teaches art at her alma mater.

“If lawmakers can’t fix DACA, Cambrón and thousands of teachers like her could face deportation when their work permits expire — in her case, that happens in February 2018.

“Her students, she said, are ‘very aware of what’s happening’ with the program.”

In the eyes of the Trump’s administration these American Dreamers are ‘too lazy’:   

Carlos Gonzalez was a Gates Scholar at the University of Cambridge and a Schwartzman Scholar at Tsinghua University and is a member of Pennsylvania’s Commission on Latino Affairs.

Emmanuel Diaz has two jobs to pay his college tuition in Georgia.

Edison Suasnavas has a master's degree in molecular biology, and works for a company that tests patients’ samples for cancer.

Diego Corzo bought his first house months after enrolling in DACA. He fears he won’t be able to pay his mortgage if he loses his status.

Nathali Bertran was hired by Honda after attending college on a full scholarship and earning a degree in mechanical engineering.

Juan Carlos Rivera is a DACA recipient whose family owns a business in South Carolina, creating jobs for other DACA recipients.