Trump Signals the end of DACA, UNM Community Stands Strong.
“It’s unrealistic to tell people not to be afraid because we don’t know what’s going to happen.” Says Alejandro Mendiaz-Rivera podcaster and staff member at El Centro de la Raza, of President Trump’s latest threats towards immigration reform.
On Easter morning, after wishing a Happy Easter on twitter Trump unleashed a slew of tweets that signaled a reassertion of his aggressive stance towards illegal immigration which included the end to negotiations on a legislative replacement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, threatening the future of around 8 thousand individuals nationwide.
Trump signs executive orders in 2017 (Getty Images)
“Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. ‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!” Trump tweeted Easter morning.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA is an executive legislation established during the Obama administration that grants limited protection to individuals or “Dreamers” who were under the age of 16 when they entered the United States in or before 2007. DACA permits these individuals to work and attend school in the United States once they are been admitted into the program.
Students protest in 2017 against the news of DACA repeal. (Albuquerque Journal.)
In September of 2017, the Trump administration announced the plan to repeal DACA, giving Congress six months to create a replacement. Trump’s end to this process and the repeal of DACA could affect many UNM students leaving them with limited access to employment and education.
In light of Trumps proclamations of an immigration crisis in the United States, illegal immigration numbers at the southern border have reached a record low. According to the United states Border patrol, apprehensions in 2017 of illegal immigrants at the southern border was the lowest since 1973. Yet, The Trump administration has increased pressure on Immigration enforcement by eliminating priority on immigration which placed undocumented immigrants with a criminal record at top priority for deportation. Currently, any undocumented immigrant detained faces an equal deportation priority with criminal immigrants.
Armando Bustamante, student programs specialist at El Centro de la Raza at UNM, has witnessed a number of changes to immigration procedures carried out by The U.S. Immigration and customs enforcement since the installment of the Trump administration.
“We’ve seen ICE do things they’ve never done in the past, like pull people out of court and expedited deportation.” says Bustamante
He views Trumps recent actions as political maneuvering with real consequences for immigrant populations.
“ It’s a very political thing and this administration has made it a focal point of their presidency, its been coming for a long time though. I mean Obama was deporting more people than any other president. The immigrant population are like political pawns and a stance for or against them is used to attract votes.” says Armando Bustamante.
The repeal of DACA would affect a significant number of students at UNM as well as affect the number of foreign students to enroll. Currently, DACA is only eligible for renewal and no new DACA applications are being accepted.
“In the University, we have seen a decrease in student visa Visa applicants, The U.S. is not perceived as immigrant friendly as it once was.” says Alejandro Mendiaz Rivera.
In Albuquerque there are an number of organizations who focus on supporting undocumented individuals and undocumented individuals in need of support at UNM can find guidance and assistance at EL Centro de la Raza, as well as a number of other student associations.
When asked what immigrants and those in the community could do, both Mediaz-Rivera and Bustamante say, “Inform yourself, know the statistics, the legislation and contact your locl representatives.”
In the spirit of spreading information on this subject, Undocutalks podcast was created as their slogan states, “by immigrant youth for immigrant youth.”
Alejandro Mendiaz-Rivera during a recording of Undocutalks. (undocutalks)
With Undocutalks, Mendias-Rivera who spent 19 years as an undocumented student and crew aim to provide an internal immigration viewpoint to inform listeners and dispel stereotypes perpetuated by popular media.
“if people knew how hard it is to changes your status from illegal, undocumented to a citizen, if people knew the true statistics of how immigrants help this country versus the stereotypes, I think the national and political narrative would change.”
Free the Humans Coms. 