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Indybay Feature

DACA in the shadows

by Zaira J. Ayala
The article will focus on the effects and problems 3,000 DACA recipients face in Sonoma County.
Unfortunately, today DACA isn't getting enough recognition from the media nor is receving government action.
November 28, 2017
Dear Editor,

On September 5, 2017, the Trump administration decided to discontinue DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). I am writing to inform you the serious consequences and create awareness for the 3,000 DACA recipients in Sonoma County. Many people will argue and claim DACA is a waist of the government's time and money, unfortunately that's not comparable on how much DACA will have to leave behind. My group and I interviewed 17 DACA recipients and discovered the serious consequences they will face if the Trump Administration continues with their decision. All the recipients have been able to find good jobs and have been able to continue their education, although many will lose their jobs and their degree will be worthless. Theses young individuals have their entire life in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County will be hit with serious issues if the renewal for DACA does not continue. The media sadly has not been up to date nor is acknowledging the effects it will have on the individual and the community. DACA should be a weekly announcement since 80,000 people in the United States will be affected. I invite all to read our essay and to become more aware the problems many young adults are having to face.

Thank you,
Zaira J. Ayala
§Letter
by Nelly Phan
DACA

Dear​ ​Editor,

I​ ​am​ ​writing​ ​this​ ​letter​ ​in​ ​hopes​ ​of​ ​enlighten​ ​individuals​ ​of​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​around​ ​DACA​ ​and​ ​how it​ ​affects​ ​people​ ​in​ ​everyday​ ​communities.​ ​After​ ​Trump​ ​became​ ​president,​ ​he​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in favor​ ​of​ ​banning​ ​the​ ​program​ ​that​ ​helps​ ​undocumented​ ​youth​ ​and​ ​people​ ​who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​this country​ ​at​ ​a​ ​young​ ​age.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​young​ ​DACA​ ​recipients​ ​that​ ​fear​ ​for​ ​their life​ ​everyday.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​topic​ ​that​ ​people​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​more​ ​aware​ ​about.​ ​To​ ​have​ ​a​ ​better understanding​ ​of​ ​this​ ​issue,​ ​my​ ​group​ ​and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​gather​ ​20​ ​DACA​ ​recipients​ ​and​ ​conduct interviews.​ ​We​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​many​ ​different​ ​voices​ ​and​ ​opinions​ ​surrounding​ ​this​ ​topic. issues.​ ​This​ ​allows​ ​people​ ​to​ ​be​ ​more​ ​attentive​ ​to​ ​this​ ​issue.

Thank​ ​you, Nelly​ ​Phan
§DACA Research
by Andrea Terrones
Students from Sonoma State University conducted research on DACA and the impacts it has had on recipients in Sonoma County.

The Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals is a program that President Barack Obama put into order in 2012. It is a program for eligible immigrants who arrived to the United States before the age of 16. It allows for them to remain in the United States, have a work permit, and receive a Social Security.

The program was created to open up new opportunities for these young immigrants and provide some security for them. However, earlier this year President Donald Trump announced the end of the DACA program possibly leaving 800,000 immigrants exposed to being deported and losing the ability to work and continue going to school. This decision has brought up many questions, concerns, and fears to those recipients of DACA.

We interviewed 20 DACA recipients within the Sonoma County to see how this change would not only affect them, their work/school life, but of course their family. We focused on learning more about their upbringings, how growing up undocumented impacted them, and what their future holds with the new change in administration.

Among our findings we learned about all the opportunities DACA opened up for them and how their futures are now in limbo. We hope that by conducting this research and putting background stories to the ‘dreamers,’ we can shed some light onto the great things DACA has done for them and why it is important for our administration to find a new alternative for these 800,000 immigrants.
§DACA Research at SSU
by Zuly Fernandez (zuly.fer08 [at] hotmail.com)
Research conducted by other Sonoma State students and I on DACA recipients in Sonoma County.

Zuly Fernandez
Soci 336
Group 4
November 15, 2017

Dear Editor,

I write to you with hopes of granting my research group the opportunity to educate the public more about DACA recipients that live close by, work in the same place, and go to school with that they may not be aware of. My group and I have worked on conducting interviews with DACA recipients that have voluntarily and anonymously shared their stories and put themselves out there without knowing the reactions they could receive. Given that new laws have drastically changed the future of DACA many of them fear the near future as their DACA expires but some of the public doesn't realize that these changes have taken a huge toll on their lives and their future planning. If we are given the opportunity to share our findings we will be able to give light to the DACA recipients that live and work with us. We can help change this if we all come together and become more attentive to the cause.

Sincerely,

Zuleyma Fernandez
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