In September, Donald Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which protected those who were brought into the country illegally as children and permitted them to stay in the country temporarily to attend school or work if they met certain criteria. And now, as the government approaches conflicting views on the new federal budget with a possible government shutdown, approximately 800,000 Dreamers are left with their fate unknown for the new year.
Six of these Dreamers, along with one ally, are refusing to wait.
The seven activists first drew attention to their cause at a sit-in outside of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office on Friday. Police took them into custody where they were held until their release on Tuesday for staying in the building during after-hours, which, technically, could be deemed as unlawful entry.
Erika Andiola, one of the protesting Dreamers as well as Bernie Sander’s former press secretary for Hispanic media, took to social media to raise awareness of their protest. “If you’re reading this, I’m still in police custody after being arrested last night at @SenSchumer office demanding he prove claim to support Dreamers by organizing his caucus to block any spending deal w/out a clean #DreamAct,” she tweeted on Saturday to her followers. “Will remain until he does. #OurDream #NoDreamNoDeal”
If you're reading this, I'm still in police custody after being arrested last night at @SenSchumer office demanding he prove claim to support Dreamers by organizing his caucus to block any spending deal w/out a clean #DreamAct. Will remain until he does. #OurDream #NoDreamNoDeal pic.twitter.com/BXkkXw6haI
— Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) December 16, 2017
The group of activists also are vowing to conduct a hunger strike to emphasize the issue’s time-sensitivity, refusing to uncommit from the strike until Senator Schumer and Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo gather enough votes to delay the decision on the federal budget, which includes an insufficient replacement of the DACA.
These activists are calling for a “clean” DREAM Act, which would continue to protect these Dreamers without increasing risk of deportation for their families, contrary to the proposed altercation that is being presented to Congress instead. While, under the one being considered by Congress, there are options provided for illegal youths to move towards citizenship, it contradictingly increases funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other immigration detention centers.
And until a better replacement for the DACA is offered, the seven activists are persistent to uphold their protests. However, as Representative Henry Cuellar, an advocate for the DACA, said, the likelihood for Republicans considering DACA legislation until the new year is very slim.
“We’re trying to put as much leverage on Republicans as we can, but they are saying early next year,” said Cuellar. “I was hoping we could do it by the end of the year and maybe a miracle will happen, but I don’t see it right now.”
Twenty Democratic Attorney Generals urged Congress in a statement to consider the Dream Act to be passed before the holidays, saying, “Congress must act to address the status of the youth and young adults who were brought into our country as children and who now live, work and attend school in our communities. These ‘Dreamers’ are law-abiding residents who have passed extensive background checks, are employed, pay taxes and volunteer in countless ways to enrich our states. They are parents, community leaders, homeowners, and founders of businesses.”
As for the six Dreamers protesting, however, they are inclined to believe that ICE has been contacted about their illegal status and, by drawing attention to the overall matter, risk personal deportation.
“The DREAM Act can pass in December 22nd as part of the spending bill. Schumer can do this. He has the power to do it,” said Erika Andiola in regards to Congressional involvement. “And we’re tired of him playing political games with our lives. And that’s why we’re here. And we’re going to stay here, and we’re going to stay in jail until he does that.”
These undocumented immigrants are risking everything on behalf of the 800,000 Dreamers that the DACA effects; help them represent these people by calling your local senator and demanding the passing of a clean Dream Act.
