Five Colorado DREAMers Head to DC to Lobby for DACA

Thousands of eligible unauthorized immigrants have yet to renew their immigration status as a part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, despite the October 5 deadline.

The deadline applies to roughly 154,200 recipients whose benefits are set to expire prior to March 5, 2018.

The legislation protects undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children from deportation. They also want a primary contact at the university to act as a liaison for undocumented students, and better access to information and resources for undocumented students and prospective students.

“The fear is even more real now that they are so uncertain with the present administration that says something today, and tomorrow they say something totally different from what they said the day before”. While their bill would also grant immigrants a path to citizenship – given they meet some requirements – earning it would take longer that it would under the Dream Act (15 years instead of 13).

“We are hoping that the administration makes good on its promise to allow the work authorizations that the DACA applicants have, to honor their expiration date”.

With just a few more hours remaining until immigration authorities stop accepting renewal applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, thousands of eligible illegal immigrants have yet to apply for an extension.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Michael Dougherty said that not doing anything ran the risk of a lawsuit by DACA opponents that could have led a court to order an immediate end to the program, “and that’s why we stepped it down the way that we did”.

Chavarria said Thursday’s deadline to renew DACA status was unjust. She provides for her little sister Maria and her 2-year-old niece Alyssa. “Not only is he ending the protections the government pledged to these young immigrants who know no other home, but his administration is targeting them now while the DACA program is still in place”. Trump challenged Congress to craft a legislative solution for DACA youth. Federal immigration authorities reported that 9,000 people received DACA status in Rhode Island and MA.

“Depending on what country they come from it can take upwards of 20 years to get that LPR status”, he said. “People who have worked hard and become embedded in America’s fabric are being sidelined because of partisan politics“.

Immigration lawyers have been busy assisting clients in filling out the forms, they say the uncertainty of the program’s future is heartbreaking.

Representative Ken Buck (R-Colorado) echoed similar sentiments to President Trump in a statement shared with FOX31.