Pocatello community and ISU students hold rally to defend DACA
It’s a decision which has sparked nationwide controversy – President Donald Trump’s decision to end the DACA program. The DACA program allows for undocumented immigrants to legally stay in the U.S. for a period of time and work, or go to school, without being deported.
Friday night, community members and students at Idaho State University held a rally to defend the DACA program.
Amid chants of “The people united will never be divided” and “What do we want? Justice!” were dozens of people. All carried signs that read, “Dreams are bigger than borders” or “Dreamers not criminals.” The goal was to support the DACA program and those it affects.
Many marched for family members or friends who are “dreamers” affected by DACA. Some marched for themselves. Most felt it was unfair for Trump to end the program. Many are worried about the loss of jobs and the loss to pursue a college education for many. Many are worried because the future is unclear.
“Those repercussions are going to be horrible in my opinion,” said Abigail Rios, an ISU student. “Seeing these people in absolute fear, not knowing what to do – most of these people that I am family with or friends with, they’ve never been to anywhere else but America.”
“Our DACA recipients are some of the strongest people in our communities,” said Stephanie Carr, a protestor. “They have struggled through life and they have become some of the strongest people in our society. And for us to just toss them aside like they are nothing is wrong. And Donald Trump is wrong.”
“Getting that taken away is very scary because I want to become someone who’s part of America,” said Olivia Echeverria, a high school student who worries about what the future holds for her and her family. “I want to be a doctor one day. Why can’t I? Why can’t someone just like? Why can’t my cousins from Mexico do the same thing?
“It’s insane and it’s so sad and it’s not only something that I have to watch but its’ something that I get to experience second hand because my best friend is Hispanic and her family is,” said Annabell Head. “And I can’t fathom in my own brain hating someone because of that – ever. And preventing them from having the experiences that I get to have.”
Trump has given Congress six months to come up with a better solution to allow immigrants to legally stay in the U.S. The President also tweeted that if Congress is unable to get anything done in those six months, he will take another look at DACA.
