As Trump’s immigration plan looms, thousands of undocumented in Fresno await their future

When Donald Trump was elected president, Reyna Castellanos of Visalia bought property in Mexico – where she hasn’t lived since she was an infant.

“We bought land just in case, and we’ve been paying it off so that if anything happens, at least we have a place to go,” she said. “I’ve lived here since I was 3. I wouldn’t even know how the peso works; where to enroll my kids in school. This is all I know.”

Castellanos, a 34-year-old life insurance agent who grew up in the central San Joaquin Valley, worries that what she’s been preparing for could soon be a reality. According to reports on Friday, Trump is likely to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – a program under Barack Obama that granted reprieve from deportation for people like Castellanos, who entered the U.S. illegally as minors.

Trump had initially pledged to end DACA, but seemed to soften his stance earlier this year, voicing sympathy for young immigrants benefiting from the program, which was created in 2012. Now facing pressure from 10 states that want to see DACA end, White House officials said the policy’s fate will be announced by Tuesday. He’s facing pressure to keep the program going from big companies like Google, General Motors, Microsoft and Starbucks, and on Friday House Speaker Paul D. Ryan joined in lobbying Trump not to dismantle DACA.

Castellanos has five children, and worries what will happen to her family if she is deported. “I’ve had to start thinking, ‘OK, if I was deported, or if DACA was not in place, what would happen?’” she said. “It’s a difficult conversation to have with your children. How do you tell them they might be forced to start a totally new life in a place they don’t know – a place I don’t know?”

More than 750,000 undocumented young people benefit from DACA, which allows them work permits and the ability to attend college. According to reports, it is likely Trump will let immigrants benefiting from the program stay until their work permits run out, but no decision has been announced yet.

About 18,000 people qualify for DACA in Fresno, Tulare and Madera counties, according to a report from 2015. More than 1,000 Fresno State students are DACA recipients. The university opened a Dream Outreach Center in 2015 to serve undocumented students. Local college students who receive DACA voiced their fears in November, after Trump was elected.

Fresno State President Joseph Castro said in a meeting with The Bee’s editorial board on Friday that he’s been spending time with DACA students, and will support them no matter what.

“I don’t know what the president is going to do, and when he’s going to do it. But I think the principle stands: we’re going to be there to support them,” Castro said. “I believe they’re part of the next generation of leaders. They’ve done everything that we’ve asked them to do to be at Fresno State, and many of them are achieving at the highest levels.”

Frank Lamas, Fresno State’s vice president for student affairs, said there’s “a lot of anxiety” on campus about the fate of DACA.

“We are very concerned about how this is all going to move forward,” Lamas said. “The difficult part right now is not knowing exactly what’s going to happen. But one thing that will never change is we will always be here to support our students with all the programs and services and the things they need to be successful.”

Fresno Unified families have also voiced fear about their future. The district, the state’s fourth-largest, has seen a decrease in applications for the California Dream Act, which allows undocumented students to receive financial age for college – many voicing fear to identify themselves as undocumented.

Fresno Unified proclaimed itself a “safe place” district in March, pledging to protect undocumented students “to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

“This time of uncertainty is affecting our kids, and when you’re questioning your status in this country, and concerned about your family, it affects your learning,” FUSD Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas said. “I’m absolutely confident in our district’s commitment to ensure all kids feel safe and welcome.”

The Fresno Education and Leadership Foundation, which is usually closed on weekends, will stay open Saturday to deal with an influx of immigration clients. Xavier Vasquez Baez, immigration services coordinator for the organization, said people are rushing in to renew DACA and work permits.

“Usually, with anything that’s filed before any major decision, they will respect it, so that’s the hope. But we don’t know what to expect. There is a lot of uncertainty with our clients. The fear is there,” Baez said. “For those that are doing their DACA for the first time, we’re telling them to just wait. You don’t want to put yourself at risk.”

Mi Familia Vota hosted a forum about DACA in Fresno on Thursday evening to address the concerns; about two dozen attended.

“I am here fighting not only for myself but for my friends and for my community,” said Giselle Gasca, 23, who has DACA. “My permit expires in February so that would be the end for my DACA permit, but guess what? I can’t vote, I can’t have the same opportunities that a lot of people who were born here have, but I’m here to help organize, I’m here to help people register to vote.”

Samuel Molina, state director for Mi Familia Vota, said the organization is trying to answer questions, despite national uncertainty.

“I don’t believe there was a lot of trust to begin with, but we are hoping that this program will stay in place,” he said. “Hopefully we can calm some of the fears out there.”

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center is advising DACA recipients about their rights if DACA is revoked.

“If the DACA program ends but you are allowed to keep your work permit, you have the right to work legally until your work permit’s expiration date,” the ILRC writes. “Even if the DACA program ends, you have no obligation to inform your employer that DACA has ended. Your employer does not have the right to ask you whether you are a DACA recipient or how you got your work permit.”

Abraham Magaña, a Fresno State student and volunteer for Faith in Fresno, said ending DACA would be “morally, economically and politically indefensible,” and called on local officials to voice their support.

Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, and David Valadao, R-Hanford, signed a letter in support of DACA, but Magaña said congressman Devin Nunes has been silent on the matter. Nunes did not respond to requests for comment from The Bee.

The Office of Sen. Kamala Harris also hosted an event on Thursday in Fresno in support of DACA, attended by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and other local officials.

"DACA has provided relief and protection to tens of thousands of young adults here in the Central Valley alone. We are all better because of their contributions to our community,” Magaña said.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 5:05 PM with the headline "As Trump’s immigration plan looms, thousands of undocumented in Fresno await their future."