“American democracy rests on fundamental principles of fairness and equality. Our system of justice does not punish people for things that they did not do or that they could not control. And we expect our government to abide by its commitments. In its rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, and its draconian immigration enforcement efforts, the federal government has abandoned these fundamental principles.”
In Casa de Maryland v. Trump we are holding the federal government to their promise to more 800,000 Dreamers—immigrants who came to the United States as children, grew up here, went to school here, created businesses and families and served in our military—and who trusted the government when they came out of the shadows and applied for DACA. We filed the lawsuit in October on behalf of a national coalition of organizations and with a stellar legal team that includes Arnold & Porter, Kaye Scholer LLP, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and the Civil Rights Clinic of the Howard University School of Law. We are also privileged in this action to represent Dreamers Angel Aguiluz, Luis Aguilar, Estefany Rodriguez, Annabelle Martinez Herra, Heymi Elvir Maldonado, Maricruz Abarca, Nathaly Uribe Robledo, Eliseo Mages, Jeus Eusebio Perez, Josue Aguiluz, Missael Garcia, Jose Aguiluz, and Brenda Moreno Martinez. Here are some of their stories.
Misa
27 year-old Missael Garcia, who goes by the name Misa, became a father the day before the DACA renewal application deadline. The next morning the community organizer was leading chants of “Si, se puede” with a group of Dreamers placing hope in our lawsuit against the federal government. “My baby was literally born yesterday, so I am a new dad you know, joining the club of daddies,” he said. “I think that being stable in this country with legal status is going to help me a lot to support my child now and I feel more determined to fight for her, fight for myself, for my situation and not just for mine, but for everybody in general.”
When Misa was 12 years old he was brought to the United States from Mexico by his parents, who were seeking a better life. He’s a high school valedictorian, mentor to middle school students, and works in the restaurant business. Misa lives in Maryland with his family.
Misa’s DACA and work authorization expired in August 2017. Due to the DACA rescission, he is unable to renew his status and will be unable to provide for his young family or to complete the purchase of a house. He is also concerned that he will be deported to Mexico, where he has no connections.
Maricruz
Maricruz Abarca owns several small businesses in Maryland, is in school to be a legal assistant, and dreams of becoming a lawyer. She’s also a mom to three children, all U.S. citizens. After she received DACA, she recalled the moment she got her GED: “I cried. I saw my husband, my mother, my kids running towards me and I got this diploma in my hand and that shows them that yes, you can do anything you want and now we want to get this opportunity. We need DACA.”
Maricruz’s mother brought Maricruz to the United States when she was 15 years old to reunite their family.
Now 29 years old, Maricruz is scared that losing DACA would not only threaten her businesses and dash her dreams of a legal career, but could mean separation from her children and family and deportation to Mexico, where she has no connections.
Estefany
“Even though I am on a walker now, I will walk again,” said Estefany Rodriguez to a crowd of reporters, advocates, and fellow Dreamers in October, on the deadline for the last DACA renewal applications to be received by immigration.
Estafany was brought to the United States from Bolivia when she was 3 years old. Now 20, she was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago. She still is a student at Montgomery College in Maryland. Estafany’s determination and optimism is an example for every American. And yet, she worries that she will be unable to renew her DACA once it expires, endangering her health and education.