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When the Trump Administration terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in September 2017,  life changed for those who have been recipients of the program for the last five years. On November 12th, the U.S. Supreme Court case will hear oral arguments on the recission of DACA, deciding the future of hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth across the nation. Shortly after the Trump Administration announced the rescission of the program in September 2017, Maria Perales Sanchez joined her alma mater in filing a lawsuit to challenge this action. As a plaintiff and undocumented person, Maria wants to save DACA, but this is not her ultimate motivation. She publicly shared her story and became a plaintiff because she sees this litigation as an avenue to uphold migrant dignity and justice for the entire immigrant community. 

Maria Perales Sanchez shares her experience as a DACA recipient and her opinion about why it’s critical to fight for DACA and stand with its recipients. 

How do you think the DACA narrative, advanced by politicians and the media, juxtaposing the “good” and “deserving” immigrants that deserve to stay, versus the “bad” ones who should be deported, has hurt the larger immigrant justice movement? 

The “good” vs. “bad” immigrant narrative has definitely hurt the larger immigrant justice movement by enabling certain folks to become more deportable. It has been weaponized by enforcement agents to separate families and communities that may not fit the good immigrant narrative. It, unfortunately, has made it easier for certain folks to be forgotten from broader immigration remedies. I do see that in 2014-2016, the migrant youth movement was extremely conscious of this and not throwing folks under the bus. Unfortunately, certain messages are the ones that are taken even if we are actively saying otherwise. 

DACA is still an impermanent solution, that also excludes some of the most marginalized, what types of real lasting protections for every single undocumented person living in this country would you like to see? 

Everyone should have protections and pathway to permanent status. The ultimate goal is even broader than citizenship— we deserve to be treated as humans and giving that support in society. 

Awaiting this decision has understandably brought about a lot of anxiety and stress for DACA recipients, how have you been tending to your mental health in the midst of all of this? 

The uncertainties of DACA has definitely brought many anxieties or added new ones to some we already had about the wellbeing of family members who were never under DACA or any immigration status. I have always relied a lot on the support of my close ones— friends and family members. I have been journaling and taking to the gym much more in these past months, and I have also made conscious decisions of traveling and exploring places that growing up, my status would have made very difficult to travel to. I also have a very supportive team here at CDM that has been offering so much support throughout it all. 

How can folks support DACA recipients as they fight to protect DACA? 

There are several campaigns happening nationwide. Supporting and uplifting migrant led-campaigns is always a great way to be a good ally.