DACA Recipients Are Concerned About Their Future
FRESNO, Calif. — Ana Sanchez and her friends are students at Fresno Pacific University. Their situation is a bit different than your typical student. They are two of about 30 FPU students who are protected under the program called Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals also known as DACA.
“It allowed me to apply for financial aid and opened up many doors,” Sanchez said.
But this program might soon come to an end. This summer, the Supreme Court will decide whether DACA is constitutional. Many recipients are concerned about their future.
Leonardo Juarez has been impacted by DACA, but after President Donald Trump canceled the program, he is concern about his future.
“I’ll love to stay and other than that I feel that, hopefully, it will be OK,” Juarez said.
Not every student feels concerned. Jesus Gomez is optimistic that attention over the Supreme Court case will help increase awareness for immigrants.
“To me, DACA has been a privilege and if it’s time for me to stop having that privilege, I am fine with it because I want it to be a more permanent solution,” Diaz said.
Gomez is confident that the U.S. Congress will pass a bill that moves away from DACA that will lead to a path for citizenship.
“I want something effective that people can apply not just something that people will wait for. I just hope that Congress can be active, looking at the alternatives not just one or two,” Diaz said.
Sanchez said she feels that so much of immigrants’ contribution isn’t recognized by Americans. She will continue to show that they do matter.
“Undocumented individuals have had the chance to prove themselves and DACA recipients have also had to prove themselves to the United States that we are worthy candidates of staying here,” Sanchez said.
They have no other choice but to wait and see what The Supreme Court will rule. With this message of hope, they will continue to fight and show that they are worthy of staying.
“I know it’s unfair, but I think it makes us stronger,” she said.