Phoenix activists attend Supreme Court hearing.
Reyna and Mario Montoya, two DACA recipients from Phoenix, waited outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., for more than 24 hours to hear initial oral arguments Tuesday about the legality of President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Only about 50 people who waited in line were permitted to enter, Mario said. He described the experience of being in the country’s highest court as “a surreal feeling.”
Mario, 21, is co-chair of Arizona State
University’s student chapter of Aliento, a youth-led community organization founded 31⁄2 years ago by his sister Reyna, 28.
Aliento aims to empower immigrants through art-making and educational workshops, leadership training, and assistance with finding scholarships. The group’s members are DACA recipients, undocumented immigrants and allies.
Reyna said she was overcome by emotion while inside the Supreme Court.
“Being a DACA recipient, and seeing that nine judges have my destiny in their hands, and the destiny of thousands of people — I couldn’t help but cry,” Reyna said. “It’s a lot of mixed emotions.” Reyna and Mario are originally from Tijuana, Mexico. For Reyna, DACA has provided some level of relief from what she describes as “years of constant anxiety.”
As a DACA recipient, Reyna was able to get a master’s degree and an executive degree from Harvard University, teach high school and purchase a house. She didn’t have to worry as much about being randomly pulled over and sent back to Mexico, where her father was kidnapped.
“It’s finally a relief, knowing that I wasn’t going to get deported to a place
(where) I escaped violence,” Reyna said.
Reyna’s DACA status also allowed her to start Aliento, which she said allows her to help youth transform their anxiety through arts and leadership.
For Mario’s part, DACA has been a source of academic inspiration for him, as well as motivation to help others through his leadership at Aliento.
“(DACA) secured a future for me here,” Mario said. “It’s definitely made my commitment to school mean more.”
Reyna said she was encouraged by Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s statements Tuesday morning. Sotomayor referenced an amicus brief signed by 165 higher education institutions — including ASU — that support DACA.
“I think (Sotomayor) painted a really good picture of the impact, not just to DACA recipients but families of the rest of the community,” Reyna said.
Although she was inspired by some of what she heard this morning inside the Supreme Court, Reyna said she’s still experiencing mixed feelings about the future of DACA.
“Right now the reality is ... at the end of the day, Congress has the opportunity to keep us in limbo,” Reyna said. “I hope that as we continue to hear the decision from the Supreme Court and hoping that they do the right thing . ... I’m also hoping Congress actually acts.”
The Montoyas plan to head back to Arizona this morning.
Back in the Valley, another ASU student group planned to hold a rally in support of DACA on Tuesday on Hayden Lawn.