University warns illegal immigrants not to provide information to government amid Trump uncertainty

The University of Berkeley in California has warned young would-be students not to apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) permit — which provides documentation and a social security number for people who arrived in the US illegally as children. It fears providing information may be tantamount to providing a license to deport them.

“At this time, it may not be in community members’ best interest to file a DACA application as a first-time applicant given the uncertainty of the program,” their website reads.

“The DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, which would lead to permanent residency, has NOT passed. It is very likely the President-elect Trump will end this program when he takes office on January 20, 2017. As such, undocumented youth should not submit NEW initial DACA applications at this time, but wait to see whether the program will sunset, or whether the new Administration will continue it.”

The warning is just one example of the sense of fear and anxiety rippling through the immigrant community in the US where an estimated 11 million people are undocumented. Lawyers, advocacy groups and charities have been flooded with questions by those concerned about their future under the President-elect, who has vowed to crack down on border security.

Mr Trump has promised to build a wall on the Mexican border, deport between two and three million “criminal aliens” and immediately repeal President Obama’s executive orders as soon as he arrives in office.

That promise would directly affect millions of young people including the so called “DREAMers” — the children of illegal immigrants who came to the country at a young age or where even born there.

After President Obama failed to get a DREAM Act through the Senate he signed the DACA system into law by executive order. At the time, he said the young people it targeted were Americans “in every single way but one: on paper”.

Since then, 750,000 people have provided their fingerprints and personal information in exchange for social security cards and the right to go to school, university and work legally in the country.
 

However the program must be renewed every two years and there are now fears the personal information being handed over could be used by Federal Agencies under Trump to facilitate deportations — hence the warning not to file a new application.

Democrats have appealed to Obama to formally pardon the DREAMers saying they have had reports of suicide and anxiety following the election result and it is “quite literally a matter of life or death”. The White House dismissed the quest as a matter for Congress.

Those affected have testified to their sense of unease. Chicago student Andrea Aguilera, 20, was brought into the US illegally as a four-year-old and got a work permit through DACA four years ago. She now works two jobs and said “It’s been hard to focus on school.”

“I just don’t know what’s going to come next for us.”

Another child of Mexican immigrants known as Saavedra, 26, told CNN he had been in the US for 23 years and the fear was “almost paralysing.”

“We’re already hearing stories of hate crimes and bullying,” he said. “Part of us can’t believe that people feel so entitled. Trump hasn’t even assumed office.”

Earlier this week, the mayors of US “sanctuary cities” including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Chicago pledged to protect their residents.

It’s unclear whether Mr Trump plans to stick to his campaign promises, however his official website said he plans to “truly end illegal immigration for good.”

“Then and only then will we be in a position to consider the appropriate disposition of those who remain. That discussion can only take place in an atmosphere in which illegal immigration is a memory of the past, allowing us to weigh the different options available based on the new circumstances at the time.”

Latin-American voters favoured Hillary Clinton in the US election by 65 per cent compared to 29 per cent for Trump.

However despite statistics showing early votes in Clinton’s favour, Latin-American voters failed to turnout for Hillary Clinton in the same way they did for Obama in 2012.

In the key swing state of Florida, Cubans were twice as likely to vote for Trump than for Clinton.