Austin on Edge as Immigrants Brace for Possible Deportation Crackdown
Welcome to Austin, Texas, where the air is filled with anticipation and uncertainty as the President-Elect Donald Trump takes charge. With promises of mass deportation on his very first day in office, many undocumented immigrants are feeling anxious, especially those holding temporary legal status.
One of those individuals is Valeria Serna, a proud Austin-area resident and DACA recipient. “I’ve been able to not only graduate college but build a life for myself,” Serna exclaimed. Originally from Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, Valeria has crafted a future for herself thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, popularly known as DACA.
Valeria, who first got DACA when she was just 18, is hoping for a brighter future. “This DACA program really is everything to me,” she shared, emphasizing the pivotal role it has played in her life as she entered college. Established in 2012, DACA provides protection from deportation for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. But that protection now seems uncertain.
The Fear of Mass Deportation
During his campaign, President-Elect Trump made headlines with his bold claims about launching “the largest deportation program of criminals in American history”. His words have sent shivers down the spines of many, including DACA recipients like Valeria. After witnessing an extraordinary number of illegal border crossings over the past year, Trump often refers to it as a crisis, pushing for policies that aim to clear the borders of undocumented individuals.
Tom Homan, tasked as the new ‘border czar,’ has fans and critics alike wondering what will happen to dreamers under this new regime. In a recent interview, Homan stated, “That decision is up to the president.” Meanwhile, the fate of DACA remains unclear as it has been caught in a web of legal challenges since Trump attempted to dismantle the program back in 2017.
Hope on the Horizon?
In the political arena, efforts are underway to safeguard the rights of dreamers. U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia from Texas is working tirelessly on the American Dream and Promise Act, a bill designed to provide a path to permanent legal status for DACA recipients. “This legislation would provide dreamers the security they deserve,” Garcia emphasized during a recent address to Congress.
For Valeria, who experienced a personal loss after her brother was deported in 2011, the worry is all too real. “It’s a hard reality to think about, but it’s something that we do have to think about,” she reflected. Each day, she carries the fear that she might be the next target of deportation, but it’s her hope that keeps her moving forward.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
It’s worth noting that Texas stands as the state with the second-highest number of DACA recipients in the country. If DACA were to come to an end, over 90,000 people in Texas would directly feel the repercussions. These are lives that have been built on hope and a desire for a better future in their adopted home.
As the political landscape continues to shift, one thing remains clear: the immigrant community, particularly DACA recipients, are filled with uncertainty but also harboring hope for a more stable future. Austin, once a beacon of diversity and inclusiveness, is now a city divided, buzzing with discussions on what lies ahead for its immigrant family members.
So, as we inch closer to the change in leadership, the question stays on everyone’s mind – “What will happen to dreamers like Valeria?” The answer is still up in the air, but many are ready to stand and fight for their future.
