Legal Help for Mexican-born Young Man in Limbo (DACA)
I want to help a wonderful young man who is trapped in the "dreamer" generation in legal limbo - brought to the US by his parents when he was a toddler, grew up here, went to college, met my daughter here. His parents became citizens, his older siblings did too, but apparently through some paperwork snafu involving a dishonest attorney in Texas, all he has is a work visa and the "DACA" status. Now with Trump in the wings and the anti-immigrant vitriol out there I'm really scared for him - and also concerned about his job prospects, ability to travel, and just the endless uncertainty. He has brought much joy into my daughter's life and ours. He is an American in outlook and upbringing, with solid professional skills, a great work ethic and a good heart, and yet he is persona non grata. What can we do?
I looked at BPN and didn't see recent recommendations addressing the DACA situation. Should he go to legal aid? Which one? He doesn't have a lot in the way of financial resources except some earnings through some temporary work he's doing while looking for a real job. We have some means and would happily help, although he's very proud and doesn't want us to pay for him. Also, while I think he and my daughter will probably get married someday, they don't necessarily want to use that as the "way in" - and in fact I think that may not even be a sure solution. Help!!
Parent Replies
Hi - you could recommend he go to any of these organizations (I assume he is in the Bay area) which have formed a collaborative to provide legal aid to DACA eligible individuals:
http://www.iibayarea.org/get-help/daca/providers/
That you are so supportive to him I am sure means a lot. Like many others he is in a terrible situation. I wonder if the Texas snafu could be unraveled, if the rest of his family was able to get citizenship. That your daughter may want to marry him some day could provide another avenue for him to regularize his status, although no relationship needs that kind of pressure. A third option would be the pipe dream of comprehensive immigration reform.
Just to clarify something - he doesn't have a work visa if he is on DACA. He has work authorization under DACA but not a work visa (a work visa would mean he is legally inside the US on a temporary basis for the purpose of work. Even as a DACA recipient he does not have a legal status in the U.S.)
I pray voters think kindly about people like this young man in your life, when they go to the polls in November.