"We have tried too hard to excel and we are going for a definitive immigration solution," they say.

Young 'dreamers' in California benefiting from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) were thrilled to tears as they spread the news that the United States Supreme Court ruled against removing the program that in 2012, gave a twist to their lives by allowing them to obtain a work permit and avoid possible deportation.

The announcement brought them relief, hope, motivation and a great desire to continue in the fight for an immigration solution that offers them a path to permanent residence and citizenship in the country that they consider their home.

The opinion He talked to some of the dreamers who have been traced since DACA was released by President Obama.

Nallely Montesinos, a DACA on the front line against COVID-19 (photo courtesy).

Nallely, nurse assistant

When Nallely Montesinos Martínez, a nurse aide read the news on her phone that the Nation's Supreme Court had ruled against removing DACA, she couldn't believe it.

"My heart beat at a thousand an hour. I started to cry. When my husband asked me what was going on. Of the emotion I could not explain. He thought that the Court had eliminated DACA. When I was finally able to speak and I told him, we started crying together, and even my children ended up crying. ”

Nallely was 14 years old when she emigrated from Toluca, Mexico to the United States. In addition to working in the first line of combat against the virus in a hospital, studying for a nurse. At 34, she is the mother of a twelve-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy. Since 2013 she has been a DACA beneficiary. Her husband does not have any type of immigration protection.

That is why the determination of the court motivates her a lot and fills her with faith.

"It allows us to breathe one more time and gives us a moment of peace

For now, he says that this Thursday, June 18, is a day to cry with joy; And tomorrow, he will continue to fight for a path to citizenship for DACAs and their parents who also deserve immigration status.

Estefany Méndez, a DACA beneficiary, works on television in English. (Courtesy Estefany Méndez)

Estefany: Journalist

Estefany Méndez, who works as an editor for the local newscast for KPIX television, channel 5 in San Francisco, the announcement against President Trump's decision to end DACA, almost made her cry with emotion.

"This decision allows us to breathe a little more"

"We have been waiting for a long time in the midst of uncertainty, pandemic and protests, ”he says.

And trust that it brings you a lot of peace in the midst of chaos. "I thought the ruling would be until the end of the month, but it is a huge step that we have fought for: a path to citizenship."

He comments that the Supreme Court ruling is not the end of the fight. "It is up to Congress to make a decision that will benefit us, but at least it gives me hope that there are laws in this country, and makes me see that there are people who are willing to advocate for the immigrant community."

Estefany was born in Mexico City 31 years ago. Came to the United States at age 12. He graduated from television journalism at Brigham Young University in the state of Idaho. In 2016, he won an Emmy for a story on self-supporting dreamers, allowing him for the first time to return to Mexico with a travel permit (Advance Parole)

This young dreamer planned to celebrate with a dinner next to her parents. "They have been with me on this journey," he says.

Marcela Zhou, doctor from UCLA (Photo by Aurelia Ventura / La Opinion)

Marcela, DACA Physician

The news that President Trump was unable to get rid of DACA made Marcela Zhou feel relieved and reassured her to continue preparing. "I woke up to a notification by phone notifying me of the court ruling," he says.

Marcela was born in the city of Mexicali, Mexico 29 years ago. Her parents brought her to Los Angeles when she was 12 years old. He graduated as a physician in June from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); And she has just started her three-year residency in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

"I would like to be a primary doctor. It will be a privilege for me to serve the patients of my community. ”

He admits that he was very anxious about the possibility that DACA would end, but the ruling against the elimination ordered by President Trump, gives him much happiness and hope. "We have struggled and we have tried very hard to excel, and we are going to continue because there are still many people who have not benefited from DACA. ”

Ignacio, Yazmin and Uriel Viramontes, DACA entrepreneurs. (Photo Aurelia Ventura / La Opinion)

The Viramontes brothers, entrepreneurs

Ignacio Viramontes, who along with his brothers Yasmín and Uriel when they obtained DACA in 2012, took over the Dulces Colibrí business created by their parents, learned about the ruling in favor of DACA on public radio when he was driving to the facilities of the family business .

"It leaves us with a sense of relief, and gives us at least another two years to continue fighting for a permanent solution that allows us to have immigration status.Ignacio says.

He admits that he did not expect a favorable decision because most of the magistrates of the Superior Court of the Nation are considered conservatives.

"We are very happy and we are going to celebrate as a family," he says.

Along with their parents Ignacio and Martha, the three brothers emigrated from Puebla, Mexico to Los Angeles. Ignacio was nine years old; Uriel, two years old; and Jasmine three years. Currently, Ignacio is 32 years old, Uriel 24 years old and Jazmín 26 years old.

DACA allowed the three brothers to grow the company of their undocumented parents. They were able to apply for loans to buy raw materials and machinery for the business.

The brothers' plan since they opened the business is to make it prosper so that they are in a position to fight any threat of deportation.

Iliana Pérez, PhD in Education from Claremont Postgraduate University. (Photo supplied).

Iliana: doctor of education

Iliana Pérez does not hide that she was happily surprised to learn of the determination against the Supreme Court to end DACA, the program that has protected her from deportation and more than 700,000 dreamers, and has granted them a permit. of work.

"I'm very happy! We had been waiting months for a negative decision; and planning what we were going to do if we didn't have work permits or protection against deportation, but it was a surprise"

He was just waking up when he checked his phone and found many happy faces and hearts. What's going on? He wondered.

She hopes it was a great relief to learn that DACA is continuing, as they awaited the decision with great anxiety.

"It is one less thing to worry about in the middle of this coronavirus crisis, because as you know most of the immigrant communities have been affected."

Iliana arrived from Hidalgo, Mexico at the age of eight. Her brother Luis was only two years old. Today, she is 32 years old, has a degree in mathematics and has a doctorate in education from Claremont Graduate University, thanks to a special scholarship that the university awarded her and three undocumented young people, Nancy Guarneros, Jessica Valenzuela and Gloria Montiel.

She works as director of research and entrepreneurship for Immigrants Rising, a San Francisco-based organization that supports undocumented youth to become entrepreneurs.

"We have worked hard to create resources that allow them to start their businesses without the need for a work permit."

Iliana believes that the battle continues, and now the final decision to give protections to DACAs is in the hands of Congress.

Juan Ignacio Zepeda, a DACA mariachi. (Photo supplied)

Juan Ignacio: Mariachi

Juan Ignacio Zepeda, the good news that the DACA continues, his mother gave it. “I still feel vulnerable especially in these times. The fear that you may be deported for any reason is there. "

He emigrated with his parents and sisters from Guadalajara, Mexico at 12 years of age. Today, he is 34 years old.

He has made a living as a mariachi from an early age, but it was from that he benefited from DACA, which in 2016 opened the Lluvia y Fuego children's mariachi academy in Pacoima north of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles to teach how to play musical instruments.

The academy gave rise to the creation of the children's mariachi LLuvia y Fuego that already makes presentations.

Juan Ignacio reveals that he really wants to do things, succeed, sing, but he is very frustrated that he cannot travel or leave the country. “I am hungry to feel like a free person. To be able to come and go. But for now I feel discriminated and limited as if I had committed a crime when I am a good person who has shown that I am here to do good. ”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here