EL PASO, Texas – La cantidad de inmigrantes indocumentados que solicitan un estatus legal bajo el plan de “Deferred Action” (Acción Aplazada) de la administración Obama, ha sido menor a lo esperado desde que el programa se puso en marcha el mes pasado. Muchos dicen que están esperando la elección, pues temen que la administración de Romney los deje más vulnerables que nunca a la deportación.

Este programa de Acción Aplazada de la administración Obama da a los jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados permiso temporal para vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Pero menos de 100 mil, de un millón y medio que tienen derecho a solicitarlo, lo han hecho. Una razón por la que el programa ha tenido un arranque más lento de lo esperado es que muchos de los llamados DREAMers están tomando precauciones antes de revelar su estatus ante una nueva administración.

Jacob Hernández, mexicano de 21 años estudiante de arquitectura, ha vivido en El Paso desde los 5 años. Dice que él y sus amigos están preocupados por lo que haría un Presidente Romney con la información de los solicitantes.

“Si es elegido presidente, podría decir, 'Bueno, saben qué? Quiero que se vayan todos.' Por eso tiene miedo la gente. Es arriesgado porque las primeras personas a las que van a sacar son los que entregaron sus documentos.”

Los detractores de la Acción Aplazada la llaman amnistía oculta, acusando al Presidente Obama de aplicar una táctica evasiva al Congreso con la medida. Romney aún tiene que declarar si la mantendría o no, cuando dice que quiere un enfoque más permanente.

Myrna Orozco es organizadora en Unidos Soñamos (UWD, por sus siglas en inglés). Comenta que conoce a cientos tan solo en su comunidad que todavía no se sienten bien de presentar solicitud.

“He visitado a varios abogados y la gente tiene montones de peticiones detenidas hasta el 6 de noviembre; así que yo esperaría que haya un aumento mayor en las solicitudes después de las elecciones.”

Dice que hay más motivos para que los DREAMers se esperen. Involucra al proceso de solicitud, hay una cuota de 465 dólares y muchos temen la posible deportación de sus familiares.

Aunque critica que el Presidente Obama no haya cumplido con impulsar en el Congreso las reformas migratorias que prometió, piensa que Romney es un albur.

“Especialmente porque dijo que vetaría una solución permanente como el DREAM Act. Así que no sé cuál sea la solución. No da una solución, nada más cambia de rumbo dependiendo de a quién le esté hablando.”

Romney también irritó a muchos latinos cuando sugirió que podría hacerles la vida tan difícil a los migrantes no documentados que escogerían la auto-deportación.

Para tener derecho a la Acción Aplazada, los solicitantes deben haber sido traídos a los Estados Unidos antes de sus 16 años, y demostrar que han vivido en el país continuamente durante los últimos cinco años. Hernández, DREAMer de El Paso, asegura que podría ser un primer paso para que las personas como él fueran totalmente aceptadas en sus comunidades.

“Aquí he trabajado toda mi vida. Estudié. Me veo como estadounidense y buen ciudadano. Y espero que algún día suceda, pero todavía estoy luchando y no me voy a dar por vencido.”

En Texas, la Acción Aplazada podría salvar de la deportación y dar permisos de trabajo a unos 170 mil migrantes. Las estimaciones sobre el programa, en migrationpolicy.org.




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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


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Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


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