Dreamers Under Threat: Reflecting on 14 Years of DACA

Join the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the offices of Representative Sylvia Garcia and Representative Mike Levin, in cooperation with FWD.us and United We Dream, for an evening honoring the 14th Anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The event will be held on Tuesday, June 16th between 12:30-2 PM in HVC 215 and will feature a screening of the acclaimed short documentary Almost American, followed by a panel discussion on the history of DACA, the movement that shaped it, and the challenges Dreamers and the DACA program continue to face today.

Co-directed by Sam Soliman and Saritha Rothermel, and co-produced by Jasmine Hawamdeh, Almost American tells the story of Sam, a DACA recipient living in Pennsylvania. In August 2025, Sam’s mother was deported to the Philippines, and the film follows Sam as he navigates the emotional and legal realities of being a DACA recipient, uncertainty, and life in long-term legal limbo.

The short documentary premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in February and has since screened at festivals including Tribeca, Toronto, and Cannes. The film's subject and co-director, Sam Soliman, will join the event as a panelist.

Following the screening, the panel will discuss the past, present, and future of DACA while focusing on the legal battles, the advocacy, and what's at stake for Dreamers who remain in legal limbo 14 years after the program's creation.

Light refreshments will be offered and a brief reception will follow the panel discussion. Join us at the Capitol Visitors Center Room HVC-215.

RSVP is required for non-congressional attendees, who should build in 30-45 minutes for security. Prohibited items and more info on security available at https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/know-before-you-go