DACA students around the Valley saying they are facing an uncertain future

Tuesday, September 5, 2017
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- For 1,200 Fresno State DACA students, deportation is their biggest fear. Yenedit Valencia came to the US when she was seven.

"If we were to be deported we don't know our home country and we have no family there that we could connect to."

DACA was meant to protect young people, but many families did not sign up fearing they would be easier to find should the program be rescinded.

"Registering yourself as a DACA recipient was putting yourself out there. This is that day that we were all afraid of," Fresno State grad student Cecilia Ruesta said.

Local educators expressed disappointment in the push to end DACA and offered support to students.

"We stand with them and we want them to be successful at all of our different institutions. That's why we chose these professions," said Fresno State President Joseph Castro.

Sarah Sanders, the White House Press Secretary, said, "We have confidence that Congress is going to step up and do their job. This is something that needs to be fixed legislatively."

"It's all geared towards kids who have, through no fault of their own, came over as children and allow them the opportunity to have a path to legalization. I hope we get something like that passed," said Rep. David Valadao, (R) Hanford.

So-called Dreamers are counting on lawmakers to come up with a workable immigration solution. DACA supporters rallied outside the federal courthouse.

DACA recipient Xavier Vazquez said, "I want to let them know we fear for them, so this is a way for us to be together, to join forces and to fight what's ahead."

Vazquez' dream is to become an immigration attorney.

In Fresno County schools 11,000 students are DACA eligible, though half of them never signed up.
Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.