Vanessa Gutierrez grew up in West Michigan thinking she had the same opportunities as all her friends.
“When I found out that I was undocumented at that time I was in high school so I was getting ready to apply for college and getting ready to apply for my first license just like any other high school student.”
Suddenly, all those doors closed for Gutierrez. But because parents brought her from Mexico when she was three years old, she qualified for a program that covers nearly one million undocumented people. It’s called deferred action for childhood arrivals or DACA.
“I was able to apply for the program two times and receive my work permit. I’ve been able to then apply for my driver’s license and also be able to build my credit score for applying for a mortgage.”
In 2014 President Obama expanded DACA and signed in DAPA, a similar program for undocumented parents of American children. But as Alexandra Gillett from Justice for our Neighbors explained to a group of community leaders at a rally.
“Texas and 25 other states, including Michigan, sued the Obama administration. Again, this case is called Texas vs the United States and in Feb. a Texas federal court.”
The case eventually went to the 5th Circuit court, who denied the administration’s request for a stay. Now, Gutierrez and Gillette, like other DACA and DAPA advocates, are calling on the Supreme court review the 5th circuit’s ruling. The nation’s highest Court has until February if it is to rule before the next president takes office.
In the mean time, Vanessa Gutierrez, and nearly 1 million other undocumented immigrants, can only hope it gets on the docket, but even then, there are no guarantees that the ruling will be in their favor.
