DACA recipients look for certainty
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which looks to protect young illegal immigrants also known as "dreamers" from deportation, approved 171 new applications for the first time in several years.
In total, 2,713 applications were submitted, while 121 applications were denied, and 369 rejected, according to documents from the Department of Homeland Security.
Petula McShiras, an immigration attorney at Hanes and Bartels in Colorado Springs, says hundreds of DACA applicants or recipients step into their doors every other year with the fear of the unknown.
“What we are really hoping in the immigration community and as legal attorneys is that congress will act to pass something for sustainable legislation, giving more certainty to DACA and dreamers in the United States," shared McShiras.
Certainty is something that DACA recipient Nayda Benitez has been fighting for.
“It has been like three years of just like DACA being challenged in different ways, of it possibly coming back or it not coming back and I think I am just tired," added Benitez.
But for others tipping their way into the system for the first time, the approval of new applicants means hope.
“I think in general people were waiting to see whether the initial applicants were gonna get approved. Now, people feel more confident that they can apply for an initial DACA application,” said McShiras.
Some progress for DACA recipients this year, they can now apply for Advance Parole. Something was taken away during the Trump administration.
“This allows them to travel for humanitarian needs, sick or dying relative, education needs or employment needs, where it is their employer asking them to travel for their career. It is really important for individuals," added McShiras.
Mcshiras also adds there is not much fear for the removal of the program going into the Biden administration this year, but their fight lies in a permanent solution.
“What we are hopeful for is that the parameters may change to allow more people to apply for DACA or/and that Biden would really push Congress to pass legislation that would be more formal or permanent.”
