One in four Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients lives in California. An Obama-era program allowed about 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to stay and work legally.
Following the news that Donald Trump has been re-elected to national office, some anxious DACA recipients are wondering how his policies will affect their lives. Some have expressed concerns.
“I lost all hope I had,” said Emiliana Gallardo, a DACA recipient from Compton. “I’m an illegal resident, so I’m worried about what will happen in the future.”
Gallardo remembers when the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s initial plan to dismantle DACA. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority in a 5-4 vote: “This unrestricted circumvention of immigration law is an unconstitutional exercise of power by the executive branch.”
With the court becoming more conservative and Trump back in office, many recipients are concerned that DACA’s days are numbered.
“I feel like there’s more fear. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Gallardo, a 25-year-old university graduate who is now worried about her and her family’s future.
“I believe that DACA is absolutely under threat under the next administration,” said immigration attorney Gustavo Mora. He suggests DACA recipients seek legal assistance to determine what other programs could keep them in the country. “There’s no guarantee they’ll be eligible, which is why it’s important to talk to an immigration attorney about what your options are.”
“What are we going to do when it’s over? Should we stay here?” asks Riverside history teacher Eric Bautista. He lives in a mixed-status family that includes some nationals and illegal immigrants. “It seems very likely that DACA will end soon.”
Bautista was brought to the Inland Empire by his parents as a young child and recently traveled to Mexico under an advanced parole program that allows some recipients to visit their hometowns.
Since President Trump’s election last week, Bautista has been exploring all possibilities if DACA were repealed.
“I will probably be able to work until my permit ends, but after that there will be no avenue for me to work as a teacher. There is no way I can continue to grow professionally to fulfill the long-held dream I set for myself,” Bautista said. spoke.
These recipients, also known as “Dreamers,” fear their dreams of becoming American citizens will be dashed.
“Whatever happens, it has to happen,” Gallardo said. “I have to move forward and keep working, because even now… we have to continue to support our families.”
It remains unclear how the next administration will handle the DACA program and how these recipients will be affected.
