A coalition of local civil rights groups began a weeklong series of events today in support of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which may be threatened with extinction under President Donald Trump.
Organized by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, and the California Dream Network, in collaboration with young undocumented immigrants, their families and supporters, “Rise Up 4 DACA” will take place today through Friday, with events each day in a variety of locations throughout Los Angeles County.
With the possible ending of DACA on the horizon, immigrant activists are canvassing Southern Californians by phone calls and rallies to keep it in place. In Downey, Senator Kamala Harris met with organizers to affirm her support for DACA, and said that those who oppose DACA have not humanized those who will be affected.
Harris: “In talking with my Republican colleagues, I will tell — talking with my colleagues coming from states where there is not a large immigrant population – it has become clear to me, that for some of them, [they] are just not familiar with the population of folks we’re talking about. That’s why we’re doing this convening this morning.”
The organizing for DACA is being led by CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and the California Dream Network. They hosted a phone bank with a dozen volunteers to call Angelenos. Mario Hernandez, one of the organizers, says that the September 5th deadline for DACA is mobilizing the community.
Hernandez: “So, right now we’re calling voters in the state of California. We think it’s really important they take their citizenship almost to the next level by making these calls to their representatives. And, really letting them know they stand with DACA – like, DACA is a really popular program. The representatives should really take note of that, and do their job and represent their constituents.”
Reporter: “What has Trump said so far about DACA? Has he come out to support it?”
Hernandez: “So he’s made a couple of contradictory remarks. During the campaign, he was very adament about repealing DACA. Then when he was elected, he said that ‘this group of kids are incredible kids’ and that he was going to treat people with hearts. That’s what we want him to do, not only because he said it, but because it’s the right thing.”
Hernandez made a case against those who argue that undocumented people are a strain on society, “I think the argument has been made. I mean, at this point, if you arguing the opposite, you’re willfully ignoring studies from UCLA, USC, Harvard, Yale that have come out and said undocumented people, in general, contribute more than they take. And DACA receipients in particular, it’s going to be a humongous tax loss to the government if the program is repealed. Billions – four hundred, five hundred billion dollars over five years.”
The volunteers mostly consisted of young women, and a couple men, who were tasked with calling thousands of people. Anna, one of the volunteers, said DACA and its sister legislation, the Dream Act which allowed undocumented students to go to college. She called these integral to allowing people to live with dignity and to be contributing members of society.
Anna: “If it wasn’t for DACA, or let alone the DREAM Act, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college. I wouldn’t have been able to graduate from college, and [be] the first one in my family to do all of that. And [DACA/DREAM act] means a lot to someone who has entered the professional working world – I wouldn’t have had access to it otherwise.
A lot of us are the sole providers for our families. For example, I myself am the only one in my family who qualifies for DACA, whereas my older siblings don’t qualify for DACA, and basically have to do things under the table.”
Under the Dream Act, Anna went to UC Santa Cruz where she studied education and feminist studies. She has yet to apply for DACA, which would allow her to work openly, because at the time she was eligible to apply, candidate Trump was running for office. Her lawyers advised against applying for DACA, just in case. With her worst fears coming true, she cannot work. That’s why she is phone banking.
Anna: “It’s so easy for someone like Trump to take my story and be like, ‘If she can make it, so can you too. There’s no excuse.’ In reality, I’ve had a lot help from my community. In reality, I’ve had a lot of people believe in me in ways that somebody else who might be undocumented, didn’t have those opportunities I had.”
Anna takes a very nuanced look about the word ‘immigrant’ and what it means to be one. She takes issue with the phrase “America was built by immigrants.”
Anna: “Saying that statement puts undocumented folks at the same level as the people who came in and murdered native people, which is very – that’s the type of history we’re not talking about.”
For her, undocumented immigrants should not be conflated with European settlers and their descendants who committed genocide to live on Native American lands. In fact, in her eyes, undocumented people have more rights to these lands.
If DACA is repealed by Donald Trump, eight hundred thousand Americans will be affected. They will no longer have access to jobs and education, and with their names on a list by the government, their stay in America may be at jeopardy as well.
In Los Angeles, I’m Michael Flores, Pacifica Radio, KPFK
Photo Credit: AP/Craig Ruttle
Reporter Michael Flores 