Supporters of the DACA program watch a press conference in front of the capitol building in Lincoln, Nebraska on September 5, 2017. Lincoln advocacy groups gathered in front of the capitol in response to President Trump's announcement to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed younger undocumented immigrants to live in the United States without fear of deportation.
Joseline Reyna, a 21-year-old from Grand Island, Nebraska, is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who has DACA status.
For 12 years, I have been a Nebraskan. I was born in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and I was brought to the United States when I was 9 years old. On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama created a new policy, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
I have had DACA status since 2012. Not only has DACA allowed me to work, but it also has given security to both my family and myself. Ending the DACA program means I’ll no longer be able to give back to the state and country that have given me so much.
Even though I came to the United States not knowing one bit of English, I quickly adapted to the language. I will always remember how my English Language Learners teacher would tell my brother and me that within just a few months we had progressed so quickly with our English. Throughout my time in Nebraska, I’ve seen over and over again the kindness of neighbors who are working to give me and my family a chance to succeed.
Academics have always been an important part of my life. At a young age I started receiving recognition, including a scholarship when I was in eighth grade. Throughout high school, I maintained a high GPA to keep my scholarship. I will be graduating next May from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I’ve volunteered to hold positions for different organizations, mentored high school students and performed community service. I personally know many Nebraska DACA youths who stay very active in their communities and value giving back.
DACA has been a temporary policy while we wait for Congress to fix our outdated immigration laws. It grants deferred deportation to people under age 31 who came to the United States when they were younger than age 16 and meet other criteria. This allows students like me to be able to work lawfully in this country with a two-year work permit and also obtain a driver’s license. It does not, however, give me a way to apply for citizenship, and if DACA no longer continues, I could face being deported.
Nebraska was the last state in the country to give DACA recipients driver’s licenses, and within the last year Nebraska also began to permit DACA recipients to obtain professional licenses, which means I could get a job in the field I studied. I want to pursue higher education and attend law school to become a lawyer.
Taking away DACA puts students like me in a really difficult place. I want Nebraskans to know that we have worked so hard and overcome so many obstacles.
I want Nebraskans to know we are real people and that if DACA does get taken away, it will affect students like me who have given so much to this country and who want to continue to give to the communities that are our homes.
To all my fellow DREAMers: We will not give up. We will continue to work for immigration laws that give all Nebraskans a better future.
