Although there is no exact number of how many ‘Dreamers’ have not been able to complete the renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)thousands could be affected by delays before the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency.
“Thousands of DACA recipients across the country are also experiencing lengthy delays in the renewal,” acknowledged Juliana Macedo Nascimento, deputy director of Political Advocacy and Campaigns at United We Dream. “These delays have been devastating, causing the loss of status and many beneficiaries losing their jobs, income and any type of protection against detention and deportation.”
In a virtual press conference on the problems faced by the beneficiaries of this program created by Barack Obama in 2012, Macedo develop Nascimiento indicated that the delays are not only a bureaucratic issue, but that there is a “growing pattern aimed at undermining” the program that protects from deportation and grants an Employment Authorization Document (DEA).
“Renewals are taking up to five or six months or more, compared to the average of one or two months before,” Macedo acknowledged Nascimiento. “Last year, some congressmen told us how saturated their offices are with requests for intervention and how at least one of the service centers has a backlog of more than 7,000 requests.”
Justice Action Heart indicated on May 8 that the USCIS Nebraska Service Center is currently processing urgent requests as of March 13, but referenced the figure mentioned by Live Nascimiento.
Jaime Rangel, regional director of Government Relations at FWD.us, referred to a campaign to confront the Trump administration’s immigration policy that impacts the ‘Dreamers’.
“We have launched a new campaign to raise the alarm about the growing attacks against DACA beneficiaries in the program itself, this campaign is highlighting the growing threats to DACA and its beneficiaries,” Rangel said. “This initial trust initiative raised issues such as renewal delays, increased arrests and deportations, and continued legal challenges.”
Democratic representatives from Illinois Jesús “Chuy” García and Delia Ramírez agreed on the importance of a reform to protect the ‘Dremers’, in addition to criticizing President Trump’s initiatives against these immigrants.
“They are terrorizing our communities. “They are murdering our neighbors and imprisoning our loved ones, and even as the Trump administration turns asylum into a new scheme to make money off their golden visa, as they call it, they are also attacking each and every program that has provided protected status and relief from deportation for immigrants, including Temporary Protected Status and DACA,” Ramírez lamented.
Two cases of return and uncertainty
María de Jesús Estrada, a Sacramento mother and unjustly deported DACA recipient, recently returned to the United States.
While José Contreras Díaz, a new father and DACA beneficiary, was unjustly deported earlier this year, but the government recognized its mistake, granted him parole, and facilitated his flight back to the United States.
Both, however, face uncertainty, due to delays in program renewals, which prevent them from maintaining a job permanently.
María has lived in Sacramento for almost three decades, where she has a connection to the community. She was detained during the process to obtain the neutral correct permanent residence or Inexperienced Card.
“I work as a property manager, where we collaborate with the city of Sacramento to help homeless people find safe housing, food and family sports activities during the holidays,” he explained. “Three months ago I walked into an immigration office to obtain my green card, believing I was taking the next step toward stability for my family, but […] I was handcuffed, detained and deported from the United States in less than 24 hours“.
A federal court confirmed that Estrada’s deportation was wrong and the Trump administration had to allow his return.
José’s case is identical, although the government also recognized its mistake in unjustly deporting him.
“The reality is that this administration is waging war against our communities and they are trying to redefine who can be an American, who can experience the promise of safety and refuge,” he lamented.
Keep reading:
· Soldier’s wife detained by ICE in corrupt US military is released.
· DACA beneficiary returns to California after judge’s order for illegal deportation
· DACA beneficiary in Texas obtains his freedom after questioned detention
