California activists urge DACA eligible immigrants not to apply

Salinas – Thanks to a program signed into law by President Barack Obama, Adriana Gonzalez was able to get a work permit four years ago.



Gonzalez, 24, was brought to the United States illegally by her parents when she was 7.

The program called Deferred Arrival for Childhood Arrivals, most commonly known as DACA, has allowed 750,000 young people who came to the U.S. illegally to continue working and studying in this country.

But on the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to end the program. Immigration activists from the Central Coast believe, because DACA was an executive action, it would be an easy immigration program for Trump to end.

“DACA students are not so much in danger of deportation as they are of losing their DACA,” said Doug Keegan, program director of the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project. “That can happen very easily right off the bat. That won’t take any legislation, any administration change. Just with the stroke of a pen, just the same way Obama did it with creation of the program.”

Less than a week after Trump became the country’s president-elect, not only have thousands of people taken to the street to protest his divisive rhetoric but organizations that work to support immigrant rights have seen their switchboards inundated with calls.

In light of the demand, several community organizations held a news conference in Salinas Monday to urge calm among immigrant communities and to announce a series of forums in the next few days to answer questions, assuage concerns and urge people to be ready for what’s to come *— whatever that is.

For starters, immigrant rights activists advised people who may be eligible for DACA not to apply.

“It’s very possible the new president is going to terminate it,” Keegan said. “It’s better to wait.”


Students who are abroad under DACA special permits are being advised to return to the country before Jan. 20, said Paulina Moreno, DACA coordinator with the Community Action Board.

Monterey and San Benito counties are home to the largest share of undocumented immigrants in California — an estimated 55,000. Even people who are in the country legally, such as U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants, fear what could happen to their parents.

The day after the election “there was a lot of fear and anxiety and we had to bring emergency counseling support services for students in extreme distress, mostly fearful for their families,” said Bronwyn Moreno, director of students affairs at Hartnell College. “These are our future math teachers, our brightest and best students who are integral to our community. They’re paying taxes, they’re part of the American dream. It’s criminal to think of their rights being stripped away from them.”

Among the promises Trump made during the campaign was to build a wall with Mexico and deport all people living illegally in the United States — an estimated 11 million.

In a Sunday interview with CBS, Trump said he would secure the border first (sometimes with a fence if not a wall), then deport immigrant criminals (about three million, he said), then decide what to do with other undocumented immigrants.

“After the border is secure and after everything gets normalized, we’re going to make a determination on the people you’re talking about who are terrific people, they’re terrific people who we’re going to make a determination on, but before we make a determination, we want to secure our border,” Trump told Lesley Stahl on “60 Minutes.”

But because Trump tapped Kris Kobach to lead his transition team in the immigration arena, Keegan doubts Trump will take back any of his campaign promises. Kobach, secretary of state for Kansas, has been described by critics as an “anti-immigrant zealot.”

“He has been known for a long time to be very opposed to immigrants,” Keegan said. “That makes me worried. Just like his wall, I do think he’s going to implement his policies in stages and in terms of priorities. His first priority will be the criminal offenders already in the system or incarcerated. That will be his first target, after that, there’s no way of knowing. We have to look at things in short term and long term, and it’s not promising in the long term.”

In spite of the long-term prospects, activists urged immigrants not to be afraid.

“In these times of uncertainty, it’s important not to fall prey to fear,” said Maria Elena Manso, an organizer with COPA at Sacred Heart Church. “It’s important to seek help from local institutions, churches, nonprofit organizations and keep informed. We don’t know what will happen, but it’s important to remain informed.”

Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 831-726-4370.

IF YOU GO

What: Immigration forums to answer questions about how to prepare for changes in immigration policies

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Alisal High, 777 Williams Road, Salinas

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Mary Chapa Literacy and Technology Academy, 490 El Camino Real, Greenfield

When: 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Watsonville High School, 250 E. Beach St., Watsonville

When: 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: North County Recreational Center, 11261 Crane St,, Castroville

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/1...-not-to-apply/

It's a big gamble. On one hand, Trump may let DACA recipients keep their work permits until it expires or leave them alone all together. That could buy an extra 2 years of a normal life for them. On the other hand, "Oh thank you for letting us who you are...".

I have this gut feeling that not applying for DACA is a huge mistake.

The benefit is that you get a work permit, and a possibility that even if they shut down DACA, they may allow you to work out that time until it expires, and then you are right back where you are.

The negative is that you are giving your information and admitting to a civil offense of being in the USA as an undocumented individual.

...but then do y0u think that some anti-immigrant buffoon will just hunt you down, because you willingly gave your information, and ruin your life by kicking you out of the country you live in?

I can understand playing it super safe, as we survive in our situations by playing it safe a lot, but DACA is an opportunity that you may possibly never see again in your life time.

And lets say they do hunt us down and put us in deportation proceedings...right now deportation proceedings take years, and the backlog is around 500,000 or so I believe? Imagine the backlog with another 700,000 individuals added to the mix.

Then how does the Trump administration answer for targeting DACA beneficiaries, but then having a tough time finding any other undocumented individual who are still in the shadows, how do they wiggle themselves out of that kind of PR hell?

I personally just think this opportunity is too bittersweet to let it slip by like that...but maybe I will be deported next year because of DACA, who knows...BUT THATS THE POINT!!! WHO THE FUCK KNOWS!!!

Can you imagine if DACA becomes locked (not shut down), and all current beneficiaries are able to keep it but new applicants are barred, the heartbreak and tears will rival that of 11/8/2016.

You better believe DACA was worth it, and if I am just thrown out because I signed up for a program that offered me the opportunity at a better life and to contribute to the USA, and then that same program is used to target me, then so be it.

I have a feeling if he doesn't get rid of it he will lock it. That way he can say I've barred anyone else from applying and I am going to kick out all these criminals. He will appease both sides.

I have been feeling guilt for not getting married or trying advanced parole this whole time. I was too busy working and going to school like the system wanted. Your words inspired me. Because after all it was worth it. I dont think I would have made it when I graduated H.S in 2012. I was already contemplating harmful thoughts. Thank you for all your posts. I do read them closely you have a good sense of humor too lol

Its a logical conclusion, we will see what happens.

This website helps a lot, having people to relate to and talk to is always a great thing to have.

Don't let go of hope, at times its all we have.

I'd rather take my chances and get DACA and live with the small chance it'll get me deported than continue to live in the shadows.

Exactly. Under Obama they were protected. Under Trump he knows exactly where they live. Sorry but DACA recipients have every right to be terrified.

Fixed that for you.

Amen to that, dude. Aside from one ex-gf who i don't even talk to anymore, you guys are pretty much the only ones i discuss with this bullshit life of uncertainty we are living in.