DACA Students in Michiana

American Democracy Project
IUSB Activities Center, Rm 225, 11:30 am
PANEL: Sam Centellas, Director of La Casa de Amistad, Cynthia Murphy, Recruitment/Retention Counselor IUSB, Erika, DACA Student at Ivy Tech, Marlen, DACA Student at St. Mary's

* Approximately 800K DACA Students in the US and they are from all countries, not just Mexico, they include students from India, Africa, Asia, etc.
* Estmates are 2,500 in Elkhart/St. Joseph Counties
* Children who arrived here before the age of 16 and are under 31 years of age on June 15, 2012 Executive Order by President Obama
* Individuals who are in school or possess a high school diploma
* Applicants who have lived here for at least five years
* People who have not committed serious crimes, confirmed with a background check and they have to be fingerprinted
* Meeting these criteria will allow undocumented residents to obtain a driver’s license and Social Security number and a 2 year work authorization with a $495 fee
* Students are often honor students afraid of getting in trouble and losing their status
* They do not qualify for any social programs, but still have taxes deducted from their wages
* They pay property and sales taxes also
* They do NOT get Federal or State Tuition loans, grants, work study, Pell, University public dollars or assistance
* Path to citizenship is often over a 20 year wait. Someone who came in 1995 still has no guarantee of a review in 2017

* Recinded by President Trump in September of 2017 with a 6 month grace period
* Currently US House Bill #3440 and US Senate Bill #1615 would extend this program
* Both the US Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO support these bills
* They are often doing jobs no Americans want to do such as "simple basic jobs"
* They are often at risk of being exploited by employers and it means wages overall are suppressed (Minimum wage has not increased since 2007)
* Economic impact includes having many crops rot in the fields which will increase the cost of our food
* "Anchor Babies" are a myth since just having a baby here does NOT make the parents citizens automatically and the child would need to reach 21 to claim parent as sponsored
* People wanting to cross the Mexican/American border is actually declining as American companies build factories in Mexico
* Cities with immigrants are rebounding since it means their population is increasing
* Immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs who create net positive jobs, like they have in Toledo, Ohio

Ms. Cynthia Murphy: (notes not quotes)
* Since DACA, there has been an increase in earning power to pay debts to family and friends, and consumer products
* Student volunteer in the community since they can come out of the shadows
* There is a need for more doctors and nurses to take care of aging Baby Boomers
* The original Congressional Bill fell short by just 3 votes and 5 Congress members didn't vote
* Need to pass a "Clean Dream Act" that isn't tied to unpopular bills

Mr. Sam Centellas: (notes not quotes)
* Pathway to Citizenship is complicated and long, often over 20 years
* There don't need to be more statuses, there are already 5 versions
* Citizenship requires meeting a lengthy checklist, including both an oral and written interview
* 10-12% of voters nationally are Latino
* Federal judges didn't strike down the Dream Act because it is Constitutional
* Original Act was Co-sponsored by Senator Lugar (R) from Indiana
* Congress is considering a "Bridge Act" that would extend the program 3 years to find a more permanent solution
* There are positive community benefits to the DACA students being here since 15% bought a house and 50% got car loans
* Establishment has pitted poor groups against each other

Erika - DACA Student: (notes not quotes)
* Came here at age 7 since her parents wanted her to get an education and have a better life
* Has a Work Permit, has to pay for her own books, housing and out-of-state tuition
* It's like living in a "Glass Bubble" that can break at any time
* Hard to live with uncertainty

Marlen - DACA Student: (notes not quotes)
* Has a "Mixed Family Status" where her mother, brother and sister are all full citizens
* Family Re-unification takes years
* Ran away from Mexico to be with them at age 12 and crossed by herself with 15 others, only 10 made it
* With DACA she can drive without fear, is able to go to school, work (contributing taxes), interact with the community
* Provide a better life for her son
* Says her 7 yr old son worries about her leaving him and is very stressed
* Knows there is probably a 20 year wait to get citizenship

Audience Comments: (notes not quotes)
* Fear and Bigotry keep people divided
* Ignorance of the facts keeps people from supporting
* Oppression remains as long as groups remain fragmented, which keeps the establishment from solving the issues in Congress
* "No Human is Illegal" #DACA 

For more information on the topic, contact La Casa de Amistad - "To support DACA, please contact Walorski on House Bill #3440"
For more articles and meetings: #MichianaObserver