Why can’t Dreamers apply for citizenship?

As a young child, I was raised to respect everyone, no matter what background they came from in life.

I have no problem with people becoming citizens of America; however, I have always believed that people should do it legally. While I am not a big supporter of the DACA program, I found it interesting that the Jan. 17 article with tips for Dreamers mentions, “Applying now could give some another two years of temporary status.”

I always believed that the purpose of this program was to protect all who entered to U.S illegally as children. Therefore, my concern is, if the people who are protected under this program are no longer children, what is preventing them from obtaining a legal citizenship?

Moreover, when this permit only lasts for two years, why would you reapply for something that only last for so long; when you could try to obtain something that lasts forever? In this case, that would be legal citizenship in the United States?

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Why can’t Dreamers apply for citizenship?."