SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don/eldonnews.org • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017
NEWS 5
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO 25% OF ALL DREAMERS
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ing for fi nancial aid and assembling in clubs like
Improving Dreams Equality Access and Success.
Th e I.D.E.A.S club, which works to foster safe
spaces and environments for students to openly
discuss their opinions and feelings, hosted a
“Healing Circle” Sept. 7 for people who wanted
to discuss the recent DACA news, assuring un-
documented students they would fi ght to meet
their needs and lend their support. Multiple
DACA renewal clinics were also available late
September throughout Orange County, assist-
ing eligible recipients to renew their status.
Despite President Trump’s promises of in-
creased immigration enforcement that surfaced
this year, 414 SAC students applied for the
Dream Act by March 1. Th e Dream Act, signed
into law in 2011, permits undocumented
students who meet its criteria to receive state fi -
nancial aid. Th e aid money earned through the
Dream Act also remains legal under California
law, regardless of actions made at the federal
level.
California is home to over 25 percent of
DACA recipients, according to a 2015 report by
United We Dream, the nation’s largest immi-
grant youth-led organization. As of March 31,
2017, a total of 459,362 DACA requests were ac-
cepted in California, while 424,995 applications
were approved, according to U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services.
“I do not know what bubble people live in,
but America has been a country of immigrants,
and it still is,” said Hunter Jensen, a protester
and owner of Knawledge Everywear, an Orange
County brand and arts collective focused on
sharing unbiased truth within the community
through artistic media.
“People are trying to get an education and
become smarter. Th ink about the negative stig-
ma that it is going to send to these immigrant
communities. It is going to polarize even more.
Th e polarization will get worse,” Jensen said.
President Trump later tweeted Sept. 5 he
would be willing to “revisit this issue” if Con-
gress cannot pass legislation concerning DACA’s
termination within the six-month period of the
program phasing out. Regardless of Trump’s
statement, his administration continues to meet
opposition.
Fift een states and the District of Columbia
fi led a lawsuit against the Trump administration
Sept. 6, stating the decision to terminate DACA
was infl uenced by bias against Mexicans. Th e
lawsuit notes President Trump’s statements
about Mexicans during his presidential cam-
paign as well as his recent pardon of Sheriff Joe
Arpaio, convicted for refusing to cease traffi c
patrols that targeted immigrants.
FWD.us, an organization founded by leaders
in the tech industry, published a letter Aug. 31
urging the administration to protect DACA,
saying “With [Dreamers], we grow and create
jobs. Th ey are part of why we will continue to
have a global competitive advantage.” Th e letter
includes signatures from over 600 CEOs, with
representation from companies including Apple,
Facebook and Google.
Republican Senators Th om Tillis and James
Lankford introduced the SUCCEED Act (Solu-
tion for Undocumented Children through Ca-
reers, Employment, Education and Defending
our Nation) Sept. 25, as a conservative approach
to replacing DACA.
To be eligible under the SUCCEED Act, im-
migrants would have had to be in the United
States since June 15, 2012 and under the age
of 16. To receive “conditional permanent
residence,” potential recipients are required to
obtain a high school diploma, submit biometric
data to the Department of Homeland Security,
undergo an extensive criminal background
check and pay off any back taxes.
Individuals granted “conditional permanent
residence” can apply for a green card aft er 10
years under their current status and are re-
quired to earn a college degree, be gainfully em-
ployed or serve in the U.S. military. Recipients
will be unable to sponsor family members into
the U.S., a decision made to discourage chain
migration.
Aft er reports from the U.S. Postal Service
that USPS mail service delays aff ected multiple
DACA renewal requests, the USCIS released
news Nov. 15 that they would accept requests
aft er the Oct. 5 deadline for individuals who
can off er proof their original renewal was
mailed in a timely manner.
In the midst of uncertainty for Dreamers, help
is available to guide students and youth aff ected
by the changes. SAC Psychological Services
are also reaching out to those troubled by the
recent DACA news by off ering crisis support,
informative discussion about the eff ects of the
decision and safe spaces to speak with others
and express their feelings freely.
Th e OCIYU offi ces are also open to the com-
munity, off ering access to attorneys, lawyers and
“know-your-rights” workshops.
“I see the future undocumented. I see the
future brown. I see the future black. I see the fu-
ture rid of white supremacy and I see the future
where immigration reform aff ects everybody,”
Servin said, who added he believes the next step
is fi ghting for something greater than DACA.
PROTEST / “Defend DACA” and “Liberation Not Deportation” were common
slogans plastered onto signs and banners in the crowd.