DACA recipient detained after press conferecence

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/n...ence/98589720/


Moments after an immigrant spoke out about her fears of deportation, she was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Daniela Vargas, 22, was detained by ICE agents Wednesday, shortly after speaking at a news conference in downtown Jackson Wednesday morning, according to her attorney Abby Peterson.

Vargas' brother and father were detained by ICE agents in February. Vargas hid in the closet. When she was discovered by agents, she was temporarily handcuffed and then released.

She previously told The Clarion-Ledger she planned to go in hiding.

Wednesday morning, Vargas came out of hiding to speak at a press conference regarding immigration.

The press conference was hosted by local immigration attorneys, churches and the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance to bring attention to families impacted by deportation.

Vargas said she planned to move out of state with her mother and pursue her dream of being a university math professor.

"Now, I'm not so sure my dream will continue to develop," she said. "A path for citizenship is necessary for DACA recipients but also for the other 11 million undocumented people with dreams."

Daniela, her father, mother and brother came to the United States in 2001 from Cordoba, Argentina, on a three-month visitor’s visa.

The family was living in poverty in Argentina, she said, and her father had recently moved to the U.S. for work. The family then flew to the states together and never went back. Their visa expired.

Her parents eventually divorced and her mother moved out of state.

Daniela was 7 years old when her family came to America placing her under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, immigration policy. Under the policy, DACA recipients have to reapply every two years. Daniela’s DACA is currently expired but her renewal application is pending.

Vargas told the crowd, despite her father and brother being deported, she still hoped to live and work in America.

"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 is very much my country," she said.

DREAM refers to the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act', a main provision of which is to provide permanent resident status to young undocumented immigrants.

As a friend drove Vargas away from the press conference, the vehicle was pulled over by ICE agents, Peterson said.

Agents reportedly told Vargas, "You know who we are, you know what we're here for."

Vargas was immediately detained and taken into custody. Her friend was released.

Peterson said she told agents via telephone Vargas had a pending DACA case. However, agents reportedly told Peterson Vargas was a "visa overstay" and will be detained.

Vargas has no bond and is currently in ICE detention.

Since she came into the country on a visa waiver program, Vargas could be processed without a hearing, Peterson said.

Thomas Byrd, spokesman for ICE, would not immediately comment.

This story is developing.

Wait a minute, did she get detained just because she was a visa overstay?

So is she a DACA recipient or not? Her lawyer says she has a pending DACA case.

I'm guessing it expired and she was in the process of renewal

Wow that would suck if you get deported because DACA expired...

I think if she has done nothing else she will be released. So much for targeted enforcement...

Ice agents are bunch of monkey like creatures that have no future not intelligence.

Are they retarded, why resort to this type of primitive behavior.

I hope she gets released ASAP.

Well if your DACA expired, then it no longer defers your deportation. She should start looking at Argentinian universities. It sucks but thats the way the chips fell.

Wait, she hasnt done anything! why is she being detained if her DACA is pending anyways? The ICE agents told her that she is an overstay and thats why she was been targeted. What does that mean? is DACA still alive or not?

It's not fair, she should be released after they determine she is qualified for DACA, besides her application is being processed.

She needs to be released ASAP!!

What you are saying doesn't make any sense. DACA guidelines say that Dreamers in detention should be given the opportunity to apply for the program if they are eligible. She already applied for renewal...

She will be released... This is just bs. Ice wants to just terrorize people in these cases.