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8 Immigration Stories That Explain What's at Stake for DACA
Since the Trump administration announced in September that it was bringing DACA to an end, nearly 16,000 DACA recipients have already lost their protections. DACA is set to formally expire on March 5, but the process has already shortchanged benefits for many, with up to 122 more young adults losing their protections each day. While Democrats and Republicans go back to the drawing board on DACA, here are eight stories to catch you up on the fate of Dreamers and DACA recipients.
Protests, Vigils for DACA Recipients Grow as Government Shutdown Looms
Photo by Rebekah Fulton / Sojourners
Throughout the week, faith leaders and DACA recipients — young immigrants who were guaranteed protection from deportation under an Obama-era program, since rescinded by President Trump — have urged legislators to refuse a vote on a spending bill to fund the government if it does not include a Dream Act. Trump said he would sign the current version of the bill, up for vote in the House as soon as Thursday evening. That version does not include protections for DACA recipients — a potential make-or-break piece that could force a government shutdown Friday.
59 Days in an ICE Detention Center
Pastor Noe Carias Mayorga, Victoria Carias, and family. Image via the family.
They handcuffed me and searched me, and another officer said that they were taking me to the detention center in Adelanto. I had heard a lot about that detention center, but I never imagined how terrible that place actually is. I had a very bad experience there. I had a cold during the first few days of being there and I was not receiving any kind of medical attention.
Undocumented and Unashamed: DACA Recipients Share Their Stories
We are calling on the people of faith to stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters and tell Congress to the DREAM Act — and we are inviting DACAmented youth to share your stories. We will be publish these at Sojourners and sharing them with our members of Congress.
Lives in Limbo: Faith Leaders and Activists Rally for Young Immigrants
Photo by Jessica Cobian / Sojourners
Thousands gathered in front of the White House on Tuesday calling on the administration to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the executive action signed by President Barack Obama that protected 800,000 young people from deportation. They were able to receive work permits and stay in the U.S. in exchange for providing their information and going through background checks. Now, DACA is in the hands of the Trump administration — and the program is under threat by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and nine other state-level officials who plan to sue if the Trump administration does not cancel DACA by Sept. 5.
How Does Deporting a Pastor Make Our Country Safer?
Under the Trump administration, ICE has requested an additional $185.9 million to recruit more than 1,600 new ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, Homeland Security Investigations agents, and additional support personnel. This is part of a larger 1.6 billion ICE request that would also include funding for the new border wall and detention beds.