Young immigrants vow to fight halt of programme by Trump
phoenix — Immigrants are vowing to fight to stay in the US and advocates are launching campaigns including fundraisers and registration drives after the Trump administration announced it would dismantle a programme that protected hundreds of thousands of young people from deportation.
Immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children or whose families overstayed visas said they are veterans of setbacks in the political arena. They added that they are also accustomed to being persistent, and they pledge to do the same in this situation.
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday it was ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme that former President Barack Obama started in 2012. Those already enrolled in DACA remain covered until their permits expire. If their permits expire before March, 5, 2018, they are eligible to renew them for another two years as long as they apply by October 5. But the programme isn’t accepting new applications.
Opponents of the programme said they are pleased with the Trump administration’s decision. They called DACA an unconstitutional abuse of executive power.
Activists and immigrants have already launched efforts to fight the decision. A group that supports the programme in Arizona is using a community summit this weekend to hold a session on DACA and reapplying. Another is holding an information session on Wednesday on the programme.
Maxima Guerrero, a leadership development coordinator for the Phoenix-based advocacy group Aliento, said her organisation is considering creating a fundraising campaign to help DACA recipients renew before the October deadline.
“A lot of it right now is just kind of like first, taking the time to reflect on what the decision means, and what is happening. Making sure that people who are able to renew will have the support to do so,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero, who is enrolled in the programme, said advocates will also focus on providing emotional support during what many consider an
advocates will also focus on providing emotional support during what many consider an emotionally taxing time Maxima Guerrero, an activist
emotionally taxing time. “It’s kind of tough because when something like this happens, it’s like, what am I working for? I think a lot of it so far that has worked is just making sure we’re providing the space and the opportunity to have those spaces to talk about how they’re feeling to be able to reflect and to acknowledge and push the message that DACA does not define who we are as individuals and who we are as people overall,” she said. Supporters of the programme demonstrated in New York City, where police handcuffed and removed over a dozen immigration activists who briefly blocked Trump Tower, and in other cities, including Salt Lake City, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Portland, Oregon. —