DACA recipients hold onto hope as immigration policies shift under Trump (includes video story)

With ongoing mass deportation plans and shifting immigration policies, many DACA recipients fear for their future.

Joceline Aguilar, a 29-year-old Mexican immigrant, arrived in the U.S. when she was one year and ten months old with her undocumented parents. She pursued a medical career but had to drop out to support her family’s business. Now, as her parents continue undocumented after almost 30 years in the country, she faces uncertainty.

“With this whole new administration of Trump coming back, where a lot of people are very, you know, a lot of nasty things are coming around,” Aguilar said. “I think the most challenging part has been the emotional side of it.”

DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and a renewable work permit for two years. The program has faced challenges, including former President Donald Trump’s 2017 attempt to end it, which was blocked in court. Now, his stance appears to have shifted.

“The Dreamers are going to come later, and we have to do something about the Dreamers, because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age, and many of these are middle-aged people now,” Trump said. “They don’t even speak the language of their country, and yes, we’re going to do something about the Dreamers. What does that mean? What are you going to do? I will work with the Democrats on a plan.”

Democratic leaders, including Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner, agree.

“I think we have to be sensitive to students, to people like Dreamers […] or people who were brought here by their parents and have gone through our schools, gotten educated, and are now prepared to contribute back to society,” Turner said.

Aguilar uses TikTok with more than 10K followers to share her experience with Advance Parole, a program that allows eligible individuals to travel and establish legal entry, which could help them adjust their status if a permanent pathway is introduced.

“I know it’s scary,” she said. “You’re leaving everything behind, but I honestly think he’s going to give us some kind of pathway to citizenship.”

Aguilar expresses that her concern is that people don’t get informed about what it means to be a DACA recipient. 

“Some people have even asked on my Tiktok, what is DACA?” said Aguilar. “I wish they take the time to realize, oh, [These (DACA recipients) are good people, and they were brought here without them giving their consent.] I wish they would inform themselves.”

Despite the uncertainty, Aguilar remains hopeful. She recently took the risk of leaving the country and returning, reflecting the resilience of many immigrants seeking stability in the U.S.

Grecia Pacheco is a senior majoring in digital journalism. Appassionate with the truth and the news reporting, her career pathway is orientated to politics and international relations based on her goal to keep people informed about the importance of democracy and its impact on modern society.