Local nonprofits decry end of DACA
The Trump Administration announced Tuesday the end of the DACA program, causing over 800,000 young immigrants to live with the fear that they may soon be deported.
The Trump Administration did, however, allow a six-month window — until March 5, 2018 — for Congress to possibly save the policy by creating new immigration legislation.
The news was disappointing to local nonprofits.
Roberto M. de la Rosa, JD, the executive director for O.L.A. Raza Inc. — a grassroots nonprofit education center dedicated to providing immigration and citizenship services to new immigrants, low-income persons and students — said the Trump Administration’s decision to end DACA is just wrong.
“It seems extremely cruel and unusual for President Trump to take the first steps to getting these young people deported when they were brought here by their parents and not by their own decision,” he said, adding, “We were anticipating something negative from the Trump Administration, but not this horrible.”
De la Rosa said many in the local community are “extremely concerned” about potential deportations and “what they will do to the fabric of our culture,” he said.
“We see them [DACA recipients] as Americans even though they were not born here,” De la Rosa said, adding that, “So many of them have never actually experienced life in any other country other than the United States.”
March 5, 2018 is also the official end date for DACA under the new policy. Those who are currently covered under DACA, with a work authorization that is set to expire before that date, have until Oct. 5 of this year to apply and obtain a two-year renewal.
DACA applications that were submitted prior to the announcement will still be reviewed by the U.S. government.
The Obama Administration created DACA, also known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, back in 2012, which grants work permits, identity documents and relief from deportation to approximately 800,000 illegal immigrants who arrived in the country as youths.
U.S. Attorney Gener-
"It seems extremely cruel and unusual for President Trump to take the first steps to getting these young people deported when they were brought here by their parents and not by their own decision. We were anticipating something negative from the Trump Administration, but not this horrible." executive Roberto director M. for de O.L.A.la Rosa Raza Inc.
al Jeff Sessions bashed the program in a letter to Elaine Duke, the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, stating that it was created out of “an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.”
“DACA was effectuated by the previous administration through executive action, without proper statutory authority and with no established end-date, after Congress’ repeated rejection of proposed legislation that would have accomplished a similar result,” he said.
State Senator Andy Vidak (R-hanford) yesterday issued a statement regarding the Trump Administration’s announcement that (DACA) Executive Order is being rescinded.
“I have said for years that immigration reform, including protecting ‘Dreamers,’ should be done by Congress and the President working together. Through his actions today, President Trump has put the ball squarely in Congress’s court,” Vidak said.
He continued, “Hopefully both Republican and Democrat members of the Senate and House will put aside partisanship for the good of the country, get off their posteriors and enact comprehensive immigration reform.”
Porterville resident Daniel Penaloza said the Trump Administration’s decision to do away with DACA is “very unamerican.”
“It goes against what America stands for and
its values of opportunity and of allowing people to come to this country and make a better life for themselves and to contribute back,” said Penaloza, who is also a representative for Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles.
In terms of what Congress chooses to do, Penaloza said he hopes it introduces new legislation that would eventually enable DACA recipients to become legal, permanent residents.