USA Today (Opinion)
By Juan Escalante
May 19, 2015
Thanks to President Obama's recent executive action on immigration, today millions of immigrants would have been able to apply for relief. Sadly the Republican Party has blocked comprehensive immigration reform and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is now caught up in the courts, along with a program known as Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) — which could shield parents of U.S. citizens from deportation.
Republicans remain eager to deploy every maneuver they can to deny undocumented immigrants like myself peace of mind. Whether it is denying us driver's licenses, in-state tuition, or other opportunities that would facilitate the contributions of undocumented immigrants to this great country, the Republican Party continues to put speed bumps on our path.
And their presidential candidates aren't doing so great when it comes to Latino outreach and talking to our communities. Late last month in Puerto Rico, Jeb Bush said that he understands what it means to live the immigrant experience because his wife is an immigrant and his children are bilingual and bicultural. As an undocumented immigrant, I struggle to comprehend what Bush was saying. The immigrant experience that he perceives is vastly different from my reality.
For millions of undocumented immigrants like me, the immigrant experience is nothing short of a crippling waiting game. While Jeb Bush says citizenship for us would be an "undeserving reward" we remain in fear and limbo.
How many sleepless nights has Jeb Bush spent worrying that his family could be torn apart by pitiless deportation practices and broken immigration promises? How many years did Jeb Bush spent trying figure out how to get a job, receive financial aid or even commute to work without the needed documents?
Many undocumented immigrants are relegated to a life plagued by fear, uncertainty and, in many cases, depression. I have to plan my life around the two-year renewal cycle for President Obama's DACA program.
The program, which was recently expanded to protect additional undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to society, provides individuals like myself with two years of deferral from deportation.
Like much of the Republican field for 2016, Bush has already said that he would repeal the DACA and DAPA programs. He even went so far as to say they are the result of political maneuvers comparable to those of a Latin American dictator. His position on such a critical issue is troubling to the many families who live under a broken immigration system his party refuses to fix.
People are already building their lives around the two year renewals of DACA. While others pray that the expansions of DACA and DAPA are implemented soon, just so they have a shot at the American Dream. By pledging to undo President Obama's executive actions on immigration, Bush is effectively telling people in the undocumented community that his immigrant experience is not theirs and that their American Dreams don't matter.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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