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Published on November 09, 2024
DACA Dread Looms As Trump Returns to Power, Frightened Recipients in Arizona and Texas Urge Renewal Amid Deportation FearsSource: United Way of America, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the wake of the recent presidential election, which has signaled a return to the executive office for Donald Trump, many DACA recipients across the nation have come forward to express their concerns and anxieties. Reyna Montoya, a DACA recipient in Arizona, explained the community's fears about potential mass deportations under the newly elected administration. "We are people who have been living here for over 10 years, who call Arizona home," Montoya said, in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.

During his first term, President Trump made efforts to rescind the Obama-era DACA program, which was halted by a Supreme Court ruling in 2020. However, Montoya, who is also the founder of Aliento, an organization that supports immigrant families, noted that the current Supreme Court has shifted further to the right and that a Texas lawsuit challenging DACA is likely to reach the high court. Given this landscape, those like Montoya are urging DACA recipients to renew their status as a precaution. "They can definitely do a lot of deportations," Montoya commented, as per FOX 10 Phoenix.

In Texas, which houses the second-highest population of DACA recipients in the U.S., individuals are expressing similar fears. Jemima Martinez, a North Texas resident and DACA recipient for 12 years, shared her disappointment and unease following the election results. "Surprisingly, I’m more upset than I thought I would be," said Martinez in an interview published by TPR. She relayed that the Trump victory felt like a personal affront to her and others who had believed in the possibility of formalizing DACA or creating a path to legalization.

Despite the uncertainty, DACA recipients are being advised to stay proactive and maintain valid legal status. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is currently considering the legality of the DACA program, and many brace for the potential of the case escalating to the U.S. Supreme Court. Edilsa Lopez, an accountant in Austin and prospective law student, spoke about her determination amid the election results. "We need to keep making our voices heard, our stories shared. I hope people like me and other DACA recipients can take courage to continue fighting and advocate for ourselves," Lopez told TPR.