Guzzling cheap beer in red solo cups, postponed college visits, and driving home from the DMV. Foreign milestones that Margarita Silva missed. When most of her peers were drinking and cheering at football games, Silva was scrubbing toilets, washing dishes, and removing trash from the homes of the elite. Vacuuming bedrooms that were bigger than her entire home filled her high school memories. “Cuando comenzo la tos?” “When did the cough begin?” She was translating doctor appointments from English to Spanish for her parents, babysitting her younger brother, all the while avoiding deportation from the place she has always called home. These were the concerns of, then, 18-year-old Silva. Due to her undocumented status in the United States, she wasn’t able to receive financial assistance, loans for college, or even apply for jobs.
Margarita Silva is one of the 800,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who is trying to find a place in Trump’s America. DACA was a temporary amnesty policy, created in the Obama era, in 2012, to protect the children of immigrants. Created by the Secretary of Homeland Security, DACA has allowed individuals who entered the United States as minors to remain in the country illegally, and receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation. Additionally, it allows recipients to obtain work permits, social security numbers, and protection for all immigrants ages 15-31.
Longtime rival of DACA, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, declared the end of DACA on September 5, 2017. Sessions strongly believes that immigrants dislodge jobs for Americans, and that the White House has a legal and moral duty to push for stronger border enforcements. Sessions promoted the “America First” agenda during Trump’s campaign. Americans that compete with immigrants for jobs are those without a high school diploma, are unskilled, or poor. Unmoved by the plight of DACA recipients, Sessions has stated, “This does not mean they are bad people, or that our nation disrespects or demeans them in any way,” Mr. Sessions said. “It means we are properly enforcing our laws.”
DePaul alumni, Maria Bondar, is a strong supporter of DACA. Bondar was born in the Ukraine, and understands the hardships that DACA students have to endure in a new country. Bondar was bullied in elementary school for having a thick accent, and has vivid memories of being a lonely seven-year-old. “Kids were mean, but I picked up English pretty quick,” said Bondar. Some of Bondar’s closest friends are undocumented. One is from Mexico, and the other is from Pakistan. “If my friends were to get deported, they would get sent to a country that they don’t know. They don’t even think of themselves as not Americans. We cannot end Dreamer protection,” said Bondar.
Reminiscing about her years at Barrington High School is bittersweet for Silva. When other students bragged of attaining a driver’s permit, Silva was tormented by whether her peers or teachers would report her, regarding her status. “In high school I struggled,” she says. “I couldn’t do Driver’s Ed. It was mandatory. I took the class, but I couldn’t drive. I didn’t have a social security number, so I couldn’t get a permit. The teachers knew why I couldn’t do the driving portion, but didn’t say anything.”
Silva immigrated to the United States with her mother, just days from her first birthday, from Juarez, Mexico. She entered the United States with her mother, aunt, two younger cousins and grandmother, on a tourist visa. In total, there were six people compressed inside a small, hot car. Food was scarce, and it had to be divided into small portions throughout the trip. During her crossing into El Paso, Texas, Silva, and her younger cousins, were smuggled in under the car seat. “We had to make it seem like we were only traveling to El Paso, and then coming back to Mexico. We didn’t take anything with us. We just drove all the way to Illinois,” said Silva.
Silva has little recollection of her journey to the United States. Her mother only discusses how silent Margarita and her cousins were, underneath the car seat. However, Silva won’t forget the sacrifices her grandmother also had to make. “My grandma had to trade her jewelry for money along the way, to get money for gas,” said Silva.
Foes of DACA professed that the policy is unconstitutional, after Barack Obama created the unilateral amnesty. These opponents also believe that DACA encourages more illegal border movements, and decreases job opportunities for Americans. According to the Pew Research Center, 79.4% of DACA recipients are from Mexico, with El Salvador at 3.7%, and Guatemala at 2.6%.
Republican and DePaul Alumni, Edward Vesely, considers himself an “America First” nationalist, and believes in maintaining and enforcing a comprehensive immigration policy that works for our culture, our protection and our economy. “I believe that we should enforce the laws that have already been enacted to maintain a legal immigration program, protect our borders (Canadian and Mexican), standardize on the English language, and encourage one vibrant culture that’s compromised on a mosaic of people.” Vesely believes that DACA recipients should not be punished for the actions of their parents. “I would not deport these children, but I would also not allow them to become citizens unless they follow a legal path to citizenship that, first, needs to be defined and enacted into the law,” said Vesely.
Once Silva’s relatives settled into Illinois, they promptly looked for jobs, and began navigating their new lives in America. Silva and her younger cousins were placed under their grandmother’s care while their mothers worked. The children learned English from watching American cartoons. Silva’s mother worked cleaning houses, and her father worked as a farm maintenance worker.
When several of Silva’s high school peers were working for fast-food chains or working in retail, Silva worked cleaning houses with her mother. Driving from house to house, and carrying cleaning supplies was the daily ritual. Clocking in twenty hours a week for ten dollars in cash was good pay for Silva, at the time. Silva and her mother risked driving without a driver’s license for years. “My mom was always very scared. I wasn’t as much (on driving). I would get nervous when a cop would be driving behind me, but my mom would panic. I couldn’t legally work anywhere. I babysat, and worked for money under the table,” said Silva.
After graduating from Barrington High School in 2010, Silva had no savings, and zero options for college. Without a social security number, she was unable to apply for financial aid, or receive loans. She attended community college to pursue a Massage Therapy course. She researched the trade, and was set on it. Her objective was to attain fast money, and contribute to her household. “I took a pre-course, an 8 hour class, for Massage Therapy. It cost my parents $350 dollars. I spoke to the guidance counselor and told her I didn’t have a social (security number). I asked her if it would be okay to pursue this degree, or if I would have any issues. She gave me the okay, and I proceeded.”
Silva passed the Massage Therapy class with a perfect score, and was told that, in order to finish signing up for the rest Massage Therapy courses, she would need a social security number. Feeling defeated and frustrated, Silva continued to assist her mother in the maintenance field, and babysat for a wealthy couple.
Opponents of DACA want to enforce the implemented immigration law to hold American jobs first, and secure America’s safety. The opponents also want immigrants to support themselves, and contribute to this country. According to the Pew Research Center, immigrant workers remain in low paying, and low skilled occupations such as farming, slaughterhouses, construction, and cleaning and maintenance. According to The Nation, undocumented immigrants generate 11.6 billion to the economy annually, and 3.6 billion in property taxes.
Silva benefited from DACA in 2012 and she was able to gain a work permit and a driver’s license. Silva felt as if she didn’t have to hide anymore or drive in fear when commuting. A wave of relief consumed her as her life was finally headed for a positive turn. “I stopped working with my mother. And I started working for a dental insurance company. I didn’t attend school because I was saving money for it,” said Silva.
DePaul Political Science Professor, Kathleen Arnold, believes that children of immigrants should not be punished for being brought to the United States. Arnold asks, “Are these young residents of our country who live with us, have studied here, served in the military, entitled to the protections of the state, or should they be subjected to, what the Supreme Court has recognized as, ‘a fate worse than death’…exile?”
Silva continued to work several clerical jobs, and assisted her parents with bills. In 2014, Silva married Miguel Espinoza, an American citizen. She met him on a church volunteer trip in New York. Silva traveled to New York that year to assist with the Jehovah’s Witnesses New World Headquarters set up. Silva is a devoted Jehovah’s Witness. During her visit, she met her now husband Miguel Espinoza. “After dating Miguel for two months, I told him that I was born in Mexico. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t trying to use him. I asked him if my status was a deal breaker for him,” said Silva. Miguel was also was surprised by her status, as many people are, but wasn’t disinterested in the relationship.
In the time that Miguel dated Margarita, he never thought about how difficult it would be to date someone with an undocumented status. He never considered how much time and money would have to be invested. All he knew was that he loved Margarita. Miguel has family residing in Mexico that he hasn’t visited in years, and will not visit them without Margarita. “His family understands. His mom was in the same situation when she got married to his dad,” said Silva.
Beginning the tedious process for a green card was the next step in citizenship for Silva. She first had to find a way to attain “legal entry.” Under DACA, there was a permit called Advance Parole, which granted the opportunity to travel outside the U.S. This applies to recipients who want to work, attend school, or for an emergency, such as the death of a relative, and can only be used once. Silva applied for this parole in April, 2016, and was approved September, 2016. After this approval, Silva was able to start the process for her green card. She had to fill out five applications. With the applications also came the medical examination and passport pictures.
Ten months later, Silva was married. Silva moved to California to be with her husband’s family, and now works at a car dealership as an office administrator. “When I had my ID’s checked through E-Verify, my co-worker was shocked that I was undocumented. Mainly because I don’t have an accent” Said Silva.
Silva, being recently married and without a college education, was financially strapped and frustrated on the costly DACA process. The entire cost can range from $10,000 to $15,000. This covers the naturalization application fee of $595, application for employment authorization card of $380 and a travel document can cost $360. This does not include an immigration attorney’s fees. An immigration attorney can charge $100-300 per hour. Silva has spent $3,000 on her application.
Silva, running out of resources and time, didn’t dwell on her economic strain. She “googled” how to process a DACA application and keeps herself informed on the changing laws as well as following the Trump administration’s next moves.
On Facebook, Silva followed a group called Adjustment of Status. This is a group consisting of successful DACA recipients and DACA allies. These DACA recipients are paving the way and assisting other students with resources, scholarships and immigration lawyers who offer pro-bono work. Through this Facebook group, Silva has received assistance on her application. This group consists of 11,000 members. The private group is currently closed on Facebook.
Since the cancellation of DACA, only some recipients can reapply for it. A DACA recipient can apply one last time if the expiration date is before May 2018. For Silva, it is too late, her opportunity expired September, 2017.
Since the presidential election, and now with the cancellation of DACA, Silva has admitted that she now lives in an oppressive environment. Silva was at a doughnut shop with her husband when she endured the following remarks. “I wonder, if I wear my ICE t-shirt, would this place loose it’s customers?” The comment was made by a male customer at the doughnut shop. He was sitting next to his friend, and staring directly at Silva and her husband. “The owner heard the comment that this man said to me and said nothing,” said Silva. Silva let the comment go and said nothing. She feels that this discrimination will only get worse. “This is happening more. I can’t remember ever being judged as much as I do now.”
Silva is anxiously waiting to receive her green card. She is is hoping to receive it in the next six months. Silva cannot renew DACA and is left feeling vulnerable and exposed. Currently she is waiting to received her green card. “There’s a very slim chance it won’t go through. The only reason for that not to happen is if they think our marriage is fraudulent,” said Silva
Silva has faith that things will go in her favor. She knows the path to citizenship won’t be easy. She plans on returning to school and become a social worker. “I see people, children, that need help. People who have had a hard life because they have no one. I’m a big cry baby. I’m emotionally driven,” said Silva.
Silva like many other DACA recipients see the United States as their home. She has no memories of Mexico and her family and friends are residing in Illinois. “People are always so shocked when I tell them that I’m not “American” because I don’t have a thick accent, and I grew up here. This is my home.”
Sofia Carapia 