The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision at 10 a.m. Thursday and within moments the phones and social media accounts of Dreamers across New Jersey started to light up.
After months of uncertainty, the nation’s highest court had blocked the Trump administration from ending a program that protects 650,000 young, undocumented immigrants from deportation.
In a 5-4 decision, the justices rejected the Trump administration’s arguments that the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program -- or DACA -- is illegal. The ruling does not guarantee DACA will be around forever, but it is a major victory for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children who use the program to allow them to work and remain in the U.S. with legal protections.
Many of New Jersey’s 16,000 DACA recipients, known as Dreamers, reacted to the news with a mix of elation and determination to find a permanent way to remain in the U.S.
“Our organizing work, our relentless determination that our home is here, has paid off,” said Deyanira Aldana, a DACA recipient and an organizer from the immigrant rights group Make the Road New Jersey. “And our fight continues.”
Here’s how DACA recipients from New Jersey reacted to the news:
Esder Chong, an activist for undocumented students, on the campus of Rutgers-Newark. (Rutgers University)Mel Evans
Esder Chong, 22, Middlesex County
School: Graduated last month from Rutgers-Newark, where she delivered the student commencement address. She begins her master’s degree in global affairs in the fall through an online program at a university in China as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most prestigious international graduate fellowships.
Immigration status: Came to the U.S. with her parents at age 6 from South Korea and grew up undocumented in Middlesex County. Applied for DACA and started RU Dreamers, an organization for undocumented students at Rutgers.
“The last few years, since the rescission (of DACA) in September 2017, were full of uncertainty over whether I could stay in this country despite all my efforts to pursue higher education, advocate for my community and contribute to the society. It seemed like I, along with the 700,000 (DACA) recipients, were holding our breaths for this moment. So, this decision is definitely a huge relief...
“But it’s also important to remember that DACA is a temporary solution to a limited number of vulnerable immigrant communities. It’s possible that the Trump administration could come back with another strategy to terminate the program. So while we celebrate this relief, it’s important to remember that this decision is just the beginning to finding a more sustainable, permanent solution to immigration reform that works for all Americans-- including those without papers.”
Brayan Mata Madrigal, 20, a DACA student from Trenton studying at Princeton University.
Brayan Mata Madrigal, 20, of Trenton
School/ job: A junior majoring in international relations and public policy at Princeton University. He has jobs at the Princeton library and at the Quakerbridge Mall, but has been out of work since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Immigration status: Came to the U.S. with his family from Costa Rica just before his 4th birthday to visit his grandparents. The family overstayed their tourist visas and he eventually applied for DACA.
“Before the decision, I was thinking all the stuff that could happen: Would I be able to work after college? Or go back to Costa Rica? But after I saw the (Supreme Court news) post I knew I am staying here and go to school here ...
“It means that I can for sure have a career here without having to rely on someone else for papers or waiting for the government to take action and create a path to citizenship. I can do my career, have a job, help my family and have a future here in New Jersey or wherever I decide to go ...
“I’m worried that the (Trump) administration is going to try to go about it a different way and try to repeal it again. I don’t know, people are saying it’s too good to be true, there’s going to be another attack on the program and it’s not going to last ...
“I see my friends studying abroad and doing all these things I wish I could do, but thinking why my parents came to America and all I accomplished so far, I have to remind myself I am thankful. But there’s so much more to be done. After today, I’m relieved -- but not 100% content.”
Yeimi Hernandez-Cruz, 20, a DACA recipient from Freehold.
Yeimi Hernandez-Cruz, 20, of Freehold
School/ job: Studying business at Brookdale Community College and working in a warehouse doing inventory. She is co-founder of Soñar Sin Fronteras (To Dream without Frontiers), a local activist group.
Immigration status: Crossed the border from Mexico with her family when she was 1. She applied for DACA status with the hopes of earning her degree and becoming a family lawyer or criminal lawyer protecting the legal rights of children.
“I was on the phone with my best friend when 10 a.m. hit and I saw a bunch of text messages from friends who are DACA recipients like me. I was in shock, I didn’t know what to say. I started crying on the phone and my best friend was like, ‘What’s going on?!’ and I said, ‘They sided with us.’ I was shocked...
“You become so traumatized with things like this throughout your life whenever you hear they’re going to take DACA, you’re just so traumatized. You want to maintain a positive attitude, but you also see the realistic side. You think anything can happen; Trump was elected and no one thought he’d win and he did. You don’t know what to believe in sometimes...
“I’m honestly so happy. I’m still in shock. I want to cry out of happiness and tears, but I try to calm myself. I just did my makeup for the first time in two months...
“For now, it means peace and tranquility, but there’s still so much to do, so I keep that in the back of my head. This isn’t a permanent solution, only temporary. Besides that, you know we still have children, women and men in detention centers and cages… It’s a victory, it’s a battle won, but we still have a war to win ...
“Immigrants make this country great. They’ve made it great since the beginning of time. Immigrants built this country. Slaves were brought by force to build this country. And today, immigrants mow your lawns, they feed you, they’re packaging your food, they’re helping you in ways you don’t even know.”
Tony Choi, a DACA recipient from Bergen County.
Tony Choi, 31, of Bergen County
Job: Works as a consultant on digital projects
Immigration status: Came to the U.S. at age 9 from South Korea with his family and overstayed their tourist visas. Applied for DACA in 2012 and has been renewed four times.
“I’ve had so many sleepless nights waiting for this day. I barely got a wink of sleep last night ... It’s really, really been difficult for immigrants on the federal level. I still have the ticking timer I have had since (DACA began) in 2012. Now, I know I have the opportunity to renew. That just puts my heart so at ease. My biggest fear was that it would have been kicked down the road even further...
“I know today’s news is very good news. But there is a whole generation of young people (who haven’t been able to apply for DACA). I sincerely do hope they open up the program again to young people and really see the benefits of it.”
Gloria Rodriguez, 23, a DACA recipient and Bloomfield College student from Orange.
Gloria Rodriguez, 23, of Orange
School/ job: A junior at Bloomfield College who also works in a nail salon and as a tutor
Immigration status: Crossed the border from Mexico with family members when she was 7. Applied for DACA with the hope of earning her degree and becoming a teacher.
“I am extremely happy and speechless for the decision. I actually have a couple of friends in a Whatsapp group chat of Dreamers, and everyone started texting about it. They couldn’t believe it. They were numb, just calling their parents and crying. It’s unbelievable...
“I told my mom, and she just looked at me and said, ‘What’re you talking about?’ and I said, ‘DACA, we won.’ She was extremely happy and we hugged and tears fell out of our eyes...
“This means that I don’t get to be afraid of going back to the shadows. I get the opportunity to finish my degree. Hopefully, by the time, I graduated, I can use my work permit to teach at school — that’s my biggest dream...
“I feel that I have to keep going. I know I have DACA and I’m protected … but in New Jersey teachers are only allowed to apply for license with citizenship. I’m not a citizen, so that would be a barrier to keep my dream from coming true. I need to keep going and find a way to get my licensure.”
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Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com.
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