In New Jersey and many other states throughout the nation, there are countless immigrants who obtained temporary protected legal status in 2012 when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program began. Many of these young adults have lived in the United States most of their lives and are at various points along their immigration and naturalization journeys. Some, like one woman in another state who recently told her story, are currently worried that the recent ending of DACA has made them deportable.

This woman has a young son. She used to be married to a U.S. citizen, but is now divorced. She came to the United States as a young child, a year or so after her parents crossed its borders to live with relatives already residing in a southern state. She and her brother spent the rest of their youths and young adulthood going to school and working hard to help provide for their family.

The woman said she now lives in fear that she will be arrested and deported when her DACA protection expires. Her mother, as well, was recently arrested for not being able to show a valid driver's license after suffering an injury in a car accident while she was behind the wheel. The younger woman told of her recent trip with her son to say a tearful goodbye to her mother who is currently being held in an immigration detention facility.

The woman said that she always dreamed of becoming an English teacher, but now worries that her immigration and naturalization goals may never come to pass. She also worries what will happen to her son if she winds up in a similar situation as her own mother. New Jersey immigrants worried about or facing similar problems regarding their legal status can seek guidance and support from attorneys who are well-versed in U.S. immigration law.

Source: The Huffington Post, “This Is What DACA's End Means For Dreamers Like Me“, J.J., Nov. 27, 2017