With DACA in Limbo, Students Fear Deportation

Photo source: abcnews.com

By Emily Summers, Practicum Reporter

Denise Maes, public policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, visited Regis University in November to discuss the current issue of immigration in our country. Maes addressed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), as well as the Zero Tolerance Policy, with hundreds of students, faculty, and community members in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel. 

Maes first shared the stories and experiences of a few DACA students, and explained the situation many students of similar circumstances are facing: the fear of deportation. She discussed the changes the United States has faced under the current administration and described DACA as “in limbo.” Maes stated that she is not confident that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of DACA. 

She went on to further discuss immigration, specifically surrounding the Family Separation Policy in the U.S. After Trump’s executive order for a Zero Tolerance Policy, about three thousand children who had crossed the border into the United States were separated from their families. Maes explained the effects this separation had on these children.

“Every single child advocacy group … agrees that we have caused irreparable harm and trauma to these kids,” Maes said.

Following Maes, Regis faculty member Allison Peters read an anonymous story on behalf of a current Regis student. This student’s story depicted her life as an undocumented student in the United States. Growing up, this student explained her life, as an undocumented immigrant was full of fear and uncertainty. During her time at Regis, the student had received multiple threats, including death threats. Despite these obstacles, she has remained fairly optimistic.

“My story is one of thousands, but we are here, working for a better life, allies for those who stand for what is right. I, too, am a Regis student,” said Peters, reading the student’s remarks. 

Two Regis alumni also spoke to the group about their experiences as undocumented students. Each person had a unique story.

The event soon turned toward questions and answers between the speakers and the audience. 

The event, which was part of Social Justice Week on campus, stimulated conversation within the Regis community. Hearing the true, first-person stories from former undocumented immigrants themselves shed light on an incredibly relevant issue in our world today.

DACA not so done for

(Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP)

On Wednesday night, Democratic leaders claimed that they have reached an agreement with President Trump to extend protections for undocumented immigrants who were once protected under DACA.

Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi announced that they had a “very productive” dinner meeting at the White House that focused DACA. They share, “We agreed to enshrine the protections of DACA into law quickly and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that’s acceptable to both sides.” On the topic of the wall, Matt House tweeted, “The President made clear he would continue pushing the wall, just not as part of this agreement.”

Though the meeting indicates hope for Dreamers who were once promised protection under DACA, Republican votes are still needed for any change - and Republican reactions to Wednesday night’s meeting varied.

In response to the news, Iowan representative, Steve King expressed via Twitter, “Trump base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable, and disillusioned beyond repair. No promise is credible.”

On the other hand, Arizonian senator, Jeff Flake tweeted, “Kudos to @POTUS for pursuing agreement that will protect #Dreamers from deportation.”

Alanna Shingler
Staff Reporter

Trump administration calls it quits on DACA

(Photo: AP Susan Walsh)

“I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents. But . . .,” wrote President Trump in a statement released on Tuesday announcing the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Commonly referred to as DACA, the program was enacted by President Obama to legally protect nearly 800,000 DREAMers who entered the United States without documentation as children.

Jeff Sessions, attorney general and a strong opposer of DACA adopts the notion that protections for undocumented people inherently takes away rights and opportunities of U.S. born citizens. In his opinion, DACA “denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans by allowing illegal aliens to take those jobs.” He adds, “We cannot admit everyone who would like to come here. It’s just not that simple.”

In response to the big news, President Obama issued a statement on Facebook which read, “Let’s be clear: the action taken today isn’t required legally. It’s a political decision and a moral question. We shouldn’t threaten the future of this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away from the rest of us.” Former Vice President Joe Biden added in a tweet, “Brought by parents, these children had no choice in coming here. Now they’ll be sent to countries they’ve never known. Cruel. Not America.”

Congress has until March 5 to make the final call about signing DACA into a law or providing substitute protections.

Alanna Shingler
News Reporter

DACA: How Can We Better Understand?

(Photo: Jim Wilson/The New York Times)

*Name changed for privacy

               Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, is the "use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a period of time." This period is two years, along with an opportunity to renew it. Many immigrants came to the US as children fall under this, and are known as Dreamers. This name references a failed Congress bill, called the DREAM Act, which sought to allow illegal immigrants brought to the US as children to become US citizens eventually. While the bill failed, the name stuck, and the people who fall under DACA (between the ages of 16-35), are called Dreamers.

               However, there are still many misconceptions as well as misinformation about DACA and who has it, as well as how it works. I spoke with a DACA student named Adrian* to get more information. One misconception is that DACA gives deferred status to anyone and everyone. That is not true. Firstly, you have to have come to the US as a child, remained continuously in the US for seven years, and must be between 16 and 31. However, even if you meet all that criteria, DACA is not guaranteed. The government asks for every single record in your life, according to the student. This includes things as menial as elementary school grades, really anything to prove that you were in the US continuously. DACA students must reapply every two years. Even when reapplying, there is no guarantee that you will be granted deferred action. Every time you reapply there is a $450 fee along with a mandate for new fingerprints and new photos.

               Another misconception is that those who have DACA are given government aid. According to Adrian, that is not true. While DACA allows one to have a legal job, pay taxes, a work Social Security Number (which allows you to apply for everything that requires an SSN), and a driver's license, it does not give financial aid to anyone under DACA. That means no FAFSA, no public student loan, no food stamps, welfare, or any government assistance. As a result, for Adrian, he takes out private loans and pays $15,000 out of pocket each school year. Even so, he has worked for many years, and says he cannot remember a weekend in college he went without working.  

               People claim that those who have DACA have a more propensity to commit a crime, or are criminals. In fact, perhaps only a few individuals have a felony who are given DACA status. Other times, if you have a misdemeanor, you go through the justice system; however, if you have a DUI, your DACA status is revoked, and you are deported. Still others say DACA paves the way for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship. According to Adrian, that is incorrect. If you apply for citizenship, you have to have sponsors and it takes 5+ years to be accepted without a guarantee. During this time,  you do not have papers or anything else permitting you to work.

               The lives of undocumented immigrants, as well as kids who are under DACA, tends to be difficult. Adrian said that during high school, his entire family, five total, were living on $18,000 a year. He did not know about the financial struggles until he was old enough but it has taught him humility.  Many parents  and undocumented immigrants in general take whatever job that they can get. As Adrian put it, "Your rough time was very different than my rough time because my parents didn't have choices." When it comes down to it, DACA is about giving more choices to undocumented citizens.

               While DACA allows quite a few things, it does not give as many rights as you would think. The system is setup to allow immigrants to come to the US; it isn't setup to maintain them legally. All the money that Adrian's family makes is reported to the government, however, they are not allowed to have financial help from the government. Moreover, those who come to the US may have all the credentials they need, but cannot get into the job sector that they are trained for; as a result, many of them are forced to take jobs that others normally wouldn't. This is out of necessity, not desire.  

               So what can Regis students do? The answer is, well, not much. Sadly, as Adrian said, those who are undocumented, or grew up in a family where the parents are undocumented are taught to be unseen. At this point, kids who have DACA are more afraid for their families than themselves, because if they tell someone, that gives that person the power to destroy lives. As a result, as Adrian said, "We're the people that have been taught not to take up space.” The best thing to do, Adrian said, is to respect and understand that others are going through what you cannot fully comprehend. The general student body needs to understand that right now, DACA students feel the need to be quiet, to continue working, and to keep struggling, because it is not necessarily the time to speak out, says Adrian. DACA students are here, but they are not visible because they risk losing their family; and if your friend tells you that they have DACA, then it is important to understand that they are giving a huge piece of themselves to you. They are not only giving part themselves, they are making their entire family vulnerable. Respect it.

Margaret Gentry Staff Reporter