DACA recipient detained after press conferecence - Page 5

Before being out of DACA was not an issue. It seems now you have to renew if you don't want to be deported. Problem is many young people cannot afford it.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/01/us/dre...ppi/index.html

(CNN)She spoke out on behalf of young undocumented immigrants like herself who want legal status. Now she's in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Daniela Vargas, 22, was arrested Wednesday after sharing her family's story -- including her father and brother's arrest last month by ICE officers -- during a news conference in Jackson, Mississippi.
Moments before her arrest by ICE, Vargas had advocated for young people who, like herself, were brought to the US illegally as children, then qualified for a temporary reprieve from deportation under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. Recipients often are called DREAMers, a reference to the DREAM Act, which if approved by Congress would give DACA participants permanent legal status.
Trump keeps DACA but chips away at barriers to deportation
Trump keeps DACA, chips away at barriers to deportation
"The path to citizenship is necessary for DACA recipients but also for the other 11 million undocumented people with dreams," Vargas told reporters. "Today, my father and brother await deportation, while I continue to fight this battle as a DREAMer to help contribute to this country, which I feel that is very much my country."
President Donald Trump has identified DACA as an exception to sweeping new orders mandating aggressive enforcement of immigration laws. But new rules issued by the Department of Homeland Security make clear that no undocumented immigrants will be exempt from deportation proceedings.
DACA status lapsed
Vargas said she arrived in the United States with her family at age 7 as an undocumented immigrant from Argentina and later was granted DACA status, which lasts two years.
Her attorney, Abby Peterson, said Vargas' DACA status expired in November. She could not immediately afford the minimum $495 renewal application fee, Peterson said, and put off the process until last month. The government recommends that DACA recipients apply for a renewal between 150 and 120 days before their status expires.
Days after she reapplied, her father and brother on February 15 were taken into ICE custody at their home. Immigration officers did not arrest Vargas at that time.
A friend who has known Vargas since she arrived in Mississippi 15 years ago described her as "a great kid."
Trump admin sets stage for mass deportations
Trump admin sets stage for mass deportations
"She was a member of the band; she plays the trombone," Angela Stuesse said. "She got a scholarship to keep going to band for community college but couldn't pay for the rest of the expenses."
Vargas, who aspires to be a university math teacher, wanted to speak out about recent ICE raids, Stuesse said.
"She thought sharing her story might help people," she said.
Vargas appreciates the opportunities afforded her in America, her lawyer said.
'She pays her taxes'
"Like so many immigrants, she doesn't take this country for granted," Peterson said. "She has pursued an education, she works hard, she pays her taxes. She is a very deserving individual."
ICE confirmed Vargas is in custody: "US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Daniela Vargas, 22, an unlawfully present Argentinian citizen, into custody March 1, during a targeted immigration enforcement action in Jackson, Mississippi."
Peterson said she has not yet spoken with Vargas but will represent her with federal authorities.
CNN's Nick Valencia contributed to this report.

Please merge this with the already posted article

You would think every dreamer who has been lucky to get a work permit would save 500 dollars during the 2 years for their renewal.

If you can't afford to save $500 in two years, the problem is with you.

If you can't save $500 in two years, you'll most likely be a public charge and don't deserve DACA.

Ice went to her residence before and she declared that she's a DACA recipient.. so they left her alone. She never explained it was expired months ago to save her ass. I'm sorry.. this person is super irresponsible. She never renewed it on the time range that was required and she went ahead and threw attention on herself. Not very bright.

I hope they let her go but she needs to wake up.

So she lied to ICE.

Didn't save $500 for her DACA. Probably spends $100+ for the phone bill a month.

She sounds like a disaster.

She could've borrowed $500 from somebody and paid them back too if it's hard to get it at that recommended time range of renewal. This is 1st priority before any luxury she had in this country. Like someone else has stated, "She had 2 years to put away 500 bucks" like in her savings account or in an envelope so none of this would happen.

500 bucks isn't hard to make either lol

She is young and we should not attack her.

She is for sure not a criminal!

I understand not being sympathetic with criminal dreamers but this girl seems like she is just one of us.

You can't assume she could afford DA in time, her family was taken away, maybe she has debt due to other factors we don't know about.

Coming up from times in which I barely made enough to go by. I know 500 dollars can seem daunting for many, specially if there are unexpected expenses.

Let's wait for the facts.


She must be released!