By Maribel Velazquez
Democratic senators and immigrant advocacy organizations raised alarm bells about the future of thousands of beneficiaries of the DACA program, after denouncing delays in renewals, detentions and deportations under the administration of donald trump.
The senator from California, Alex Padillaled a conference along with Dick Durbin and Mark Kelly to demand that Congress approve the Dream Act, an initiative that seeks to offer a Permanent path to citizenship for so-called ‘Dreamers’young people who came to the United States as children.
During the meeting, the legislators presented cases of people affected by delays in immigration procedures that were previously routine.
“Many DACA recipients are simply waiting for what was once a preferred renewal of their status,” Padilla stated. “We have heard cases of dreamers detained and even deported.”
Stories that reflect uncertainty and fear
One of the most impressive testimonies It was that of Ariel, a nurse based in San Francisco who arrived in the United States when she was two years old and who now faces the risk of losing her job due to the delay in renewing her immigration protection.
According to Padilla, Ariel submitted its documentation 135 days before expiration of your permissionbut his case remains unsolved.
“He is about to lose his job caring for the sick and the promotion he had worked for, due to the failures and Trump administration cruelty“said the senator.
Democrats also denounced cases of allegedly unjustified deportations. Among them, that of María de Jesús Estrada Juárez, a DACA beneficiary who, according to what they said, was detained during an immigration interview and later deported.
Padilla assured that these episodes show the urgent need to establish permanent protections for those who have lived much of their lives in the United States.
Dream Act returns to the center of the immigration debate
Political pressure occurs while The Trump administration tightens its immigration policy again and maintains his promise to promote mass deportations.
Data cited by legislators indicate that During 2025 at least 261 DACA beneficiaries were detained and 86 deporteddespite having active protections.
The Dream Act of 2025, promoted by Padilla, Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, would allow certain immigrants without upright status to obtain permanent residence and eventually citizenship if they meet educational, labor or military service requirements.
“DACA is much more than a work permit. It is a promise,” Padilla expressed during the forum.
Keep reading:
- DACA beneficiary returns to California after judge’s order for illegal deportation
- Delays in DACA renewal keep dreamers on edge
- TheDream.US Director Sends Letter to Congress About Growing Threats to DACA Recipients
