The lives of 700,000 beneficiaries of this program and their families, including 200.00 children are at risk
Leaders of the Immigrant Rights Coalition (CHIRLA) and the FWA.US organization called the dreamers to renew as soon as possible their permits of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) so that they are protected for the next two years as long as the Supreme Court of the United States decides on their lives.
“The United States Supreme Court will make a decision between January and June of the next year to determine the legality of the cancellation of DACA made by President Trump. As we do not know what the decision will be, it is very important that the beneficiaries who have their permits expired in January and February renew their DACA as soon as possible, ”says Luis Pérez, director of Legal Services of CHIRLA.
Several courts throughout the country have determined that the Trump Administration's decision to end the DACA program was illegal. But the last word will be the Supreme Court.
Luis Pérez along with Rosa Barrientos, beneficiary of DACA and community organizer from CHIRLA, Karely Hernández and José Dante Parra of the organization FWD.us visited the newspaper The opinion to talk about the litigation process that is about to culminate next month when arguments on Trump's cancellation of DACA are heard in the Supreme Court.
While that happens, there has been a lot of confusion in the community since there are many people who believe that DACA cannot be renewed, they agree.
Luis Pérez de CHIRLA states that Only 27% of those who beat DACA in January 2020 have renewed the program; and only 14% of those who run out on February 202 have done so0.
“There are two reasons why they cannot be renewing their permits, the lack of money because the renewal costs $ 495; or the fear that the government has its information, ”he says.
CHIRLA has helped renew around 10,000 DACA applications. It is estimated that there are around 700,000 DACA beneficiaries in the country. Their contributions to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are estimated at more than 460 billion dollars between 2017 and 2027.
"There would be a massive separation of families if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the cancellation of DACA being legal," says Karely Hernández.
And note that the majority of DACA beneficiaries came to the United States, at the age of six years on average. "At that age, it is very difficult for them to remember where they came from," he says.
“Most of them came from Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala,” complements Luis.
On November 12, the Court will hear arguments from nine cases, but will make a decision in January, March or June of the coming year.
"We have to be prepared to win and lose. That is why it is important that those who have to renew their DACA between January and February, make their renewal requests immediately so that they are protected for two years”, Mentions the director of legal services of CHIRLA.
On September 5, 2017, the Trump administration announced the termination of the DACA program. However, several lawsuits were filed throughout the country to challenge the end of the program in court, which resulted in several protections to temporarily stop the president's decision.
But the fate of the young dreamers who were brought by their parents in their childhood will be decided in 2020, after hearing the arguments.
"We want to ask the court not to fall for Trump's political game, who seeks to use the dreamers like chips to negotiate money for your wall and cuts to the legal immigration system, ”says Dante.
Also in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The Dream Act 2019 was approved, a bill that would allow almost 700,000 DACA beneficiaries to obtain permanent resident status.
"The president killed DACA and said he would sign a bill sent to him by lawmakers to benefit dreamers, but he has done nothing so far," says Luis.
The problem facing the DACA is that the US Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, is controlled by Republicans. “We need the Republican leader to take her to a vote,” explains Luis.
DACA leaders have no idea what the Supreme Court ruling will be. "We hope they touch their hearts because if they approve that Trump's cancellation of DACA was legal, a very strong blow to the economy will come, and it will be emotionally devastating for families," he says.
Remember that seven years have passed since DACA was approved. Many of these young people have already married, formed families and businesses. An estimated 250,000 children would be separated from their parents, says Karely.
Dreamers in the fight
Rosa Barrientos, the young DACA who has become a CHIRLA organizer, says she knew she was undocumented when she was in high school.
“I won a scholarship, but they asked me for my social security number. I only had an ITIN number – Individual Taxpayer Identification Number – ”, he recalls.
He says that when in a program to prepare boys to go to universities like Yale and Harvard, they told him there was no room for her because she was an AB540 student – in relation to California law that allows undocumented students to pay for them. college tuition residents – their world collapsed because they had taken great care to be a good student and get good grades, ”he says.
That's why when DACA was approved and she qualified, she learned to drive and traveled to Washington. "My wings opened and he could live in peace," he acknowledges.
Rosa who actively participates in the fight so that not only the dreamers but their parents can have residence, recognizes that their dream is to be a citizen of this country, vote and make a difference.
Luis says they don't know what the court's decision will be and the details. "If we win. We do not know if we will have the complete package, if they can renew DACA without problem, obtain permits to travel abroad (Advance Parole) and the opportunity for those who turn 15 years to also request this program; or if they would only allow us to continue renewing the DACA. And if we lose, we don't know what the deportation process will be, ”he says.
Legal clinic
The FWD.US will carry out a legal clinic this Saturday, October 26, at the CHIRLA facilities to renew DACA applications. Karely of FWD.US says there will be funds to help boys who cannot pay the $ 495 fee for renewal to the Migration and Citizenship Service (USCIS).
The legal clinic will be from 8 to 11 a.m. There will be legal experts and lawyers ready to assist dreamers who want to renew this program that has given them protection from deportation and the opportunity to work legally.
