‘Definitely a relief — happiness.’ SLO County reacts to Supreme Court’s DACA ruling
Blanca woke up in her Los Osos home Thursday morning and went to work at 7 a.m. as usual, not knowing that the day would bring news of a massive decision that would ease years of stress and worry about her immigration status.
But then a text from her sister came in: “Have you checked Facebook this morning?”
The Supreme Court announced Thursday that it had upheld the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA, after President Donald Trump’s decision in 2017 to terminate the program, which protected an estimated 800,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
In a 5-4 decision, the court sided with the so-called Dreamers, and rejected Trump’s 2017 repeal of legal protections for DACA recipients.
Upon learning the news, Blanca said she only felt relief.
“It’s a relief to hear that you are welcome to stay here, especially when I came over at such a young age,” Blanca, 26, told The Tribune in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. (The Tribune is not using her full name because of uncertain federal immigration enforcement rules.)
Blanca immigrated to the United States from Cuernavaca, Mexico, when she was 6 years old. Though some of her family members are U.S. citizens, she is not.
The court decision upholds a policy former President Barack Obama adopted in 2012, protecting about 800,000 people from deportation and allowing them to work or pursue higher education in the U.S.
About 223,000 DACA recipients live in California.
Trump revoked the program in 2017, criticizing what he called the country’s “unfair” immigration system. Jeff Sessions, his attorney general at the time, argued that the DACA program effectively denied jobs to U.S. citizens.
That year, Blanca, then a Cuesta College student, told The Tribune that DACA gave her the chance at a “better future,” allowing her to support herself and her young daughter.
Three years later, Blanca is a Cal Poly graduate, holding a degree in sociology with a concentration in social services and ethnic studies, and she recently had a baby girl.
Thursday’s news came as a welcome end to years of worry about what would happen if she were deported, she said.
“That was one of the worst fears — just if this doesn’t pass, what is going to happen to me and happen to my kids?” Blanca said. “This is definitely a relief — happiness.”
‘The fight is not over’: Cal Poly Dream Center responds to DACA news
In a statement released on its website Thursday, Cal Poly’s Dream Center said that it is still waiting on legal analysis of the decision, and hopes to be able to clarify what exactly this means for DACA recipients and the program’s future.
“The Dream Center asserts that our DACA and Undocumented students, faculty and staff are a valued and integral part of our Cal Poly community,” read the statement. “We see you. We hear you. We stand with you.”
“The decision is a judicial win, but it is not a permanent answer for DACA or undocumented people,” the statement continued. “In other words, the fight is not over.”
The Dream Center was formed in 2017 to “support, empower, and advocate for the academic, professional and personal development and success of all undocumented students at Cal Poly,” according to the center’s website.
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong also sent out a statement to the campus community on Thursday following the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I share in the relief that those affected by this decision are feeling today, and also in the hope that a long-term solution can be arrived at soon regularizing DACA participants’ status and letting them get out from the cloud of uncertainty that they have been living under,” Armstrong said. “I want to be equally clear: Undocumented members of the Cal Poly community are Mustangs, now and forever. We will continue to welcome them in our community, support their educational pursuits and help them advocate for themselves.”
California politicians respond to Supreme Court decision
Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement about the news calling the Supreme Court’s decision “an important victory” as he urged Congress to strengthen protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
“We need a permanent solution for undocumented Californians and acknowledge that a pathway to citizenship is not enough. This moment reminds us we are confronting the systemic injustice and racism that exists within our nation and institutions,” Newsom said.
Congressman Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, whose district includes San Luis Obispo County, released a statement Thursday saying he “would not rest until protections for Dreamers are codified into law.”
“DACA gave nearly 800,000 young immigrants a shot at the American dream. Dreamers represent the best of our American values, and their contributions make our country stronger. Today, the dream is alive once again,” he said.
Carbajal urged the Senate to act and for the Trump administration to immediately reopen DACA applications for all applicants.
“As someone who immigrated to this country as a young boy, this issue is very personal to me,” he said. “When my parents brought me to America, I was given the opportunity to work hard, get a good education and serve my country in the military, local government and now in Congress. Dreamers deserve this same opportunity. They are our neighbors, students, family members, teachers and medical professionals. For them, home is here. And I’m glad they are here to stay.”
Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted in support of the decision.
“Today, America told the Dreamers that this is their home. Justice prevailed for every Dreamer who has worked hard to help build our country — our neighbors, teachers, doctors, and first responders,” he tweeted.
“I am relieved that the Supreme Court has upheld the DACA decision to allow youth to continue living, studying and working in a country they’ve called home since childhood,” Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement.
An estimated 29,000 DACA recipients are healthcare workers, and about 200,000 of them are believed to be so-called essential workers in the country’s effort to slow the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Center for American Progress.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
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