VIDEO - Take note Louisville - These are our local Dreamers!

Two dreamers agreed to share their journey with TWW 

Please listen to their stories

In 2017, DACA suspended deportation of over 800,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. DACA allows those migrants, popularly known as “Dreamers,” to stay in the U.S. as long as they arrived here when they were 15 years old or younger, were 30 or younger when the program began in 2012, have not been convicted of any crimes as of the time they applied for the program, and have either graduated from a U.S. high school, are currently enrolled in school, or have served in the armed forces.

The effort to end DACA is being mounted despite the fact that DACA works and has  improved the lives of its recipients and their families. Some background on DACA recipients:

• 95% are currently working or in school
• 48% got a job with better working conditions
• 63% got a better paying job
• 90% got a driver’s license or state ID
• 54% bought their first car
• 12% bought their first home

TWW October Focus - DACA: Economic Impact

“Deporting young undocumented immigrants brought to our country by their parents would do nothing to strengthen our nation. These individuals have created lives and laid down roots in our communities,” said Glen Krebs, Immigration Attorney at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP. “Their various talents and hard work help boost our local and national economies. Eliminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is not the solution our country needs in its steps towards immigration reform.”

Let's break it down

What is DACA?

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
• Obama created in June 2012
• To be eligible, illegal immigrants must have entered the United States before their 16th birthday and prior to June 2007, be currently in school, a high school graduate or be honorably discharged from the military, be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor or three other misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to national security.”
• Must pay almost $500 to renew every 2 years
• Does it provide eligibility for federal welfare or student aid
• DACA recipients pay taxes, serve in the military, and some are first responders

Effect on Economy

• Most economists agree that DACA benefits the US economy and ending it would hurt the economy
• A study by the conservative CATO institute projected that ending the program immediately would cost the US $283 billion over a decade
• The US has already invested in educating these individuals and deporting them when they are now contributing to the economy is wasting our investment

There are about 3100 DACA recipients in Kentucky. Ending DACA would cost Kentucky $155 million per year in GDP. 6000 DACA eligible individuals in Kentucky contribute $9 million per year in taxes. In fact, If everyone who was eligible was enrolled it would be $12 million (because individuals who can work legally earn higher wages)

There is a labor shortage in Kentucky for entry and mid-level workers, and ending DACA would make it worse. One employer says DACA recipients are more likely to pass a drug test than others. Read more HERE

Many Kentucky universities (including U of L) had released statements supporting DACA. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer supports DACA.

Kentucky DACA stories

College student harassed http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Student-Targeted-DACA-Student-Kentucky--444244063.html

Mother mistakenly detained for a week by ICE

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/daca-immigration_us_599df22fe4b06d67e33502ef

DACA activist

http://www.kentuckynewera.com/news/ap/article_1a3c8b54-9366-11e7-b7df-634f431696c0.html

DACA recipient’s journey

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/09/05/louisville-dreamer-daca-repeal/632154001/

Resources

Help with paying your DACA renewal fee (or to contribute to the fund)

http://www.plantory.org/daca/

Educational resources for DACA recipients:

https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/immigration-resources.html

La Casita Center

http://www.lacasitacenter.org/

TWW Charity Fundraiser & Volunteer opportunity - La Casita Center - Louisville

La Casita Center's mission is to empower Latin@ families, providing a foundation for systemic change with long-term effects, primarily through direct service (meeting basic needs) as well as through education, advocacy, and the creation of networks of support. 

La Casita has a wish list posted at this link: http://www.lacasitacenter.org/sponsorship-and-wish-list.html and always is in need of diapers (any size, open packs OK). TWW has come through for them before (see pic). Let's do it again!


You can drop off items at La Casita (223 E Magnolia Ave, 40208) during limited hours, have items shipped there, or bring them to the next TWW function. They are registered with Amazon Smile, which will donate a portion of any Amazon purchase you make to La Casita if you choose to sponsor them.

If you'd rather donate your time, you can find options to get involved here: http://www.lacasitacenter.org/get-involved.html

Keep the American Dream Alive for Dreamers

Keep the American Dream Alive for Dreamers

By Ellen Birkett Morris

In his never-ending quest to destroy Barack Obama’s legacy, the current president has decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

DACA suspended deportation of over 800,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. DACA allows those migrants, popularly known as “Dreamers,” to stay in the U.S. as long as they arrived here when they were 15 years old or younger, were 30 or younger when the program began in 2012, have not been convicted of any crimes as of the time they applied for the program, and have either graduated from a U.S. high school, are currently enrolled in school, or have served in the armed forces.

The effort to end DACA is being mounted despite the fact that DACA works and has  improved the lives of its recipients and their families. A recent article on Indivisible cited that among DACA recipients:

• 95% are currently working or in school
• 48% got a job with better working conditions
• 63% got a better paying job
• 90% got a driver’s license or state ID
• 54% bought their first car
• 12% bought their first home

If the president gets his way, these productive members of society would be deported back to countries where poverty and political oppression would threaten their well-being. The absence of this engaged, productive population potentially damages the United States economy.

As House Speaker Paul D. Ryan pointed out, “These are kids who know no other country, who were brought here by their parents and don’t know another home. To send them back to a country they have never known would be cruel and senseless."

The fate of DACA now lies in the hands of Congress. Here are some steps you can take to help support the Dreamers. 

• Stay Informed: Get the latest on this issue and the rest of Trump’s multi-pronged anti-immigrant agenda on standup.indivisibleguide.com.

• Contact your Members of Congress and use this script to register your support of DACA: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resource/tell-senator-defend-daca-support-durbin-graham-dream-act/

• Make sure Dreamers know where they stand: http://weareheretostay.org/resources/daca-update-five-things-you-should-know/

• Support local efforts to keep DACA in place, including the La Casita Center’s upcoming DACA Renewal Clinic and Circle of Solidarity Fundraiser: http://www.lacasitacenter.org/circle-of-solidarity-2017.html

TWW - Louisville Member Spotlight "DACA" - Meet Alma

My name is Alma. I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, moved to Cd. Juarez in 1995, then to Lafayette, GA, in October 2001, and have lived in Louisville KY since Dec 2004. I'm a single mom to a beautiful (every mom says the same, I know) 3 year old. I had a nice childhood. We didn't have much, but my parents made sure I had everything I needed to succeed in my studies.

I finished my engineering degree at the Technical Institute of Chihuahua, then moved to Cd Juarez (border town with El Paso, TX) to work at the maquiladora (a factory in Mexico run by a foreign company that exports its products to the company's country of origin.) first, as a technician, then, as an industrial engineer. Due to the increase in violence with the drug cartels, I decided to move here to the US, I found a job at a small company in Dalton, GA. I was then promoted and moved to Louisville, KY. 

The moment I arrived to Louisville, I fell in love with the city. I think because I finally felt free. Back in Georgia, many people were not very receptive to diversity, In 2009 the company closed its doors and I found myself kind of lost because I had totally dedicated myself to the company. My mom encouraged me to be on my own and start to work by myself, It was the best advice ever. I have met the most amazing people ever and I also found my new family, my dearest friends.

How has your life /thoughts changed since 11/8?
My life is somehow the same. However, I live in constant fear of being the target of some sort of aggression fueled by racism and misogyny. I'm particularly worried that my daughter, who is 3 years old, is present. I was asked by an Hispanic Organization to make sure I have a contingency plan for me and my daughter in case immigration gets hold of me. That includes granting legal power of attorney so my daughter gets in the right hands until my fate is decided. My thoughts mostly are: what happened? why and how is this possible in this country? It is very disappointing because I expected better from the people in this country. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that a Trump presidency was possible.


How has being part of Together We Will helped you?
This group gives me hope because I know that we (immigrants) are not completely alone. Also it keeps me and my friends informed about the different events happening in this area.


How are you feeling?
I'm not going to lie. I am very stressed, I'm a single mom and Hispanic. My closest family member (my sister) lives in Georgia; however, I am surrounded by a great circle of friends,. At the end of the day I'm always grateful because we are safe. I'm still hopeful. I knew that after Jan 20th, 2017 - that before it gets better it's going to get worse. It always happens when a big social shift is about to begin. Sometimes the change doesn't happen as fast as I would wish.


What do you feel is the importance of diversity in social movements?
The different backgrounds and life experiences give strength and perspective.


How do you plan to stay politically active during the trump era?

I do as much as I can through different Hispanic organizations. We as an immigrant community would love to participate in the open more, but because we feel we are targets we don't engage and do as much as we would like to do.

What are your top three concerns post election?

- Our safety as Hispanic community
- Discrimination towards my daughter
- ACA cancellation, because I know a lot of young people that have benefited from this program and their hopes are being shattered in the most cruel way possible

What have you found too be the most effective tool in effecting change so far?
Talking to small groups of people at churches and organizations is the only way to show who we and what we are going through, and to put a face with it.

How are you managing stress?
You know, since the election have cried a lot, I try to remember Hillary's concession speech because it gives me hope for me and my daughter. It give gives me peace to know that my little one is loved by so many people and that nothing bad is going to happen to her. I try to keep myself as busy as possible. I'm not a very religious person, but since Jan 20th of this year I pray that every day is, you know, the last day of the Trump presidency -- even though the damage he has caused so far- to this country and the world is going to take maybe a generation to heal.