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A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert and Jan Snider*
3:00 P.M. ET September 26, 2012
Deferred Action for Certain Immigrant Youth (DACA) provides hope to
thousands of undocumented young people. A UMNS photo by Jan Snider.
View in Photo Gallery
Many young adults have spent long summer Saturdays in church getting
free legal advice and encouragement in the quest of their dreams to
one day become U.S. citizens.
In June, President Obama opened the doors for young adults,
ages 15 to 30, who are not U.S. citizens but have lived in the United
States most of their lives to get a temporary reprieve from the fear of
being deported while they are in school or serving in the military.
United Methodist churches, as well as other faiths, are holding free
clinics for these young adults — called DREAMers in reference to the
DREAM Act or the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
Act that was first introduced in Congress in 2001. The legislation would give young people who meet specific conditions a path to citizenship.
Applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy
started Aug. 15. The Department of Homeland Security reported more
than 82,000 applications have been received. So far, 29 have been
approved.
Applicants must prove they:
- Came to the United States before they were 16
- Have lived continuously in the United States for at least the last five years
- Are in school or have graduated or obtained a GED certificate
- Were honorably discharged if they served in the military
- Have not been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor offense
- Pose no threat to national security or public safety
In short, this policy asserts that DREAMers who can meet certain
requirements will not be deported. In addition, when deferred action is
granted, the person may be able to pay in-state college tuition, obtain
a work permit, and get a driver’s license. It is temporary two-year
relief that many are hoping will be unnecessary if the DREAM Act is
passed.
The Rev. Kaki Friskics-Warren, left, and Anahí Gutiérrez
help prepare documents at Hillcrest United Methodist Church during a DACA clinic.
View in Photo Gallery
Justice for Our Neighbors,
a United Methodist ministry that provides legal services, education
and advocacy, has chapters across the denomination who opened their
doors to the rush of applicants wanting to take advantage of this
ruling. Many annual (regional) conferences without JFON chapters are
also conducting free clinics.
Brynne Howard, an attorney serving the Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors chapter, said the clinics have been a moving experience.
“One of the worst parts of my job, until this program, was
explaining to DREAMers that they really had no options, that there
wasn't any way for them to get a work permit or a Social Security
number,” she said. “I felt like I could literally see the hope drain
from their faces in those moments. Although this isn't the final step
and we still need to push for the DREAM Act and comprehensive
immigration reform, I've seen kids with their faces lit up with a little
bit of hope again!”
Howard has worked at clinics in Des Moines and Storm Lake, and
several smaller Iowa communities will have clinics in October, November
and December. She expects they will help more than 300 people apply
for the deferral.
Out of the shadows
Danny Upton, interim director of legal service for the National
Justice for Our Neighbors, said the deferred action would change the
lives of hundreds of thousands of young people.
“Deferred action will allow them to remain with their U.S. citizen
siblings, spouses and children rather than returning to countries where
they have no family, cannot speak the language and may have no memory
of ever having lived,” he said.
“Deferred action will bring these valued members of our local
communities out of the shadows making it possible for them to work, to
pay taxes, to go to school, and to support themselves and their
families. Finally, deferred action will allow immigration authorities
to prioritize the removal of criminals, fugitives from justice, and
others who pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the
public.”
Upton is working on 120 applications in conjunction with his home
church, Hazel Green (Ala.) United Methodist Church and other faith
organizations.
The United Methodist Tennessee Annual Conference JFON trained more
than 70 attorneys to aid in the process and have already seen more than
600 people.
‘God in action’
A DACA applicant cradles her son as she fills out the many pages of paperwork required by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
View in Photo Gallery
Application for deferred action is not risk-free. It does not change
immigration status or provide a path to citizenship. Although the
federal government has agreed to keep the information confidential,
deferred status is granted at the discretion of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement. Action against applicants can be pursued if there is
fraud, involvement in a serious crime, or national security concerns;
and, there is no guarantee that this will be a long-term policy for
DREAMers.
The Rev. Kaki Friskics-Warren, Tennessee’s JFON co-chair, describes
this as God in action. “All of this is a result of much prayer as well
as faith in action in the form of advocacy. Volunteering at the TnJFON
legal clinics and witnessing parents who are willing to risk being on
the government’s radar and youth full of so much hope, this is truly a
glimpse into the fulfillment of the reign of God.”
The Rev. Joaquin Garcia with the Tennessee Annual Conference refers
to Leviticus 19:34 as he reflects on the importance of this ministry,
“The United Methodist Church, through Tennessee Justice For Our
Neighbors, is not only helping these young people but also implementing
the Biblical mandate to welcome the alien and treat them ‘as the
citizen among you.’”
* Gilbert is a multimedia reporter for the young adult
content team at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.
Snider is a producer for United Methodist Communications.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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