US immigrant advocates urge undocumented to ‘stay positive’
Asian Law Alliance Filipino staff attorney Beatrice Ann Pangilinan advised immigrants to also look into other forms of immigration relief such as the U visa (for victims of violent crimes), violence against women act (VAWA), or other petitions aside from the original DACA. JUN NUCUM
SAN FRANCISCO – Immigrant rights advocates further intensified their campaign to get as many undocumented immigrants apply for deportation relief and ethnic communities to participate in the coming US presidential election.
Advocates participating in “From Fear to Action: Next Steps for Immigration Rights” roundtable hosted by New America Media (NAM) and San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigration Affairs (OCEIA) were unfazed by the recent split 4-4 decision of the US Supreme Court.
That decision blocked the implementation of President Barack Obama’s efforts to expand the (DACA) and the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA).
Overcome fears
They called on all eligible deportation relief applicants to overcome their fears, get out and approach a qualified immigration attorney or a Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)-accredited representative so that they could get a determination on whether they qualify for DACA.
La Raza Centro Legal Immigration Law Coordinating Attorney Amanda Alvarado Ford and Immigrant Legal Resource Center deputy director Sally Kinoshita pitch for full participation of eligible DACA applicants for the program to avail of its benefits. JUN NUCUM
La Raza Centro Legal Immigration Law Coordinating Attorney Amanda Alvarado Ford stressed that the original 2012 DACA still exists, viable and alive despite the Supreme Court decision.
Ford also sought to allay fears of those eligible for the program, saying that everyone in the United States is a person worthy of respect and dignity no matter who you are whether you are documented or not.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center deputy director Sally Kinoshita, giving important updated statistics on DACA, reported that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimated 1.7 million people to be eligible for DACA and, of this number, 819,512 people (48 percent) submitted applications as of end of March 2016, while 52 percent have not submitted an application.
High approval rates
“USCIS also cited that of those who have applied, about 89 percent were approved and 70 percent of them have renewed after the initial two-year deportation protection given them have lapsed,” Kinoshita continued.
She said that according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), 66 percent of estimated eligible nationally was from Mexico, 5 percent from Guatemala, 3 percent from El Salvador, 3 percent from Korea, 2 percent from Honduras.”
MPI estimates that California’s DACA-eligible population also had Mexico on top with 77 percent, Guatemala also second with 5 percent, Korea and El Salvador with 3 percent, and 2 percent from the Philippines.
“However when we look at those who have applied, there isn’t the same proportionality. Over 90 percent of eligible Mexicans have applied for this program. Of the Central American community, over 66 percent of them have applied. Of the estimated eligible from India, only 21 percent have applied almost four years into the program.
Atty. Lou Tancinco urges immigrants hoping for approval of expanded DACA and DAPA to stay hopeful and stay away from trouble as the next presidential election promises better chance for immigration reform. JUN NUCUM
Filipino community applicants were about 24 percent, 17 percent among South Koreans; and so few among the Chinese have applied that accurate data are not available although an estimate of fewer than 7 percent Chinese have applied,” disclosed Kinoshita.
Reporting other statistics affecting Filipinos, Kinoshita provided the MPI estimates that there are 197,000 undocumented immigrants from the Philippines, 20,000 of those are DACA eligible nationally; 10,000 of whom are in California and can apply. However, only 4,818 Filipinos or 25 percent have applied nationally for DACA.
University of California in San Diego figures estimate that there are some 28,000 Filipino undocumented immigrants living in the Bay Area where it is also estimated that 30 percent of undocumented is from the API community.
Kinoshita said fear might be a continuing factor in the low applications. Application fees may also be a deterrent, but she and other advocates stressed that there are programs that can help immigrants overcome the cost of applying.
The benefits
The advocates also stressed that DACA would continue to exist and still provide at least two years of protection from deportation, the ability to get a work permit for a possible job and health insurance, unless the next president does something to take away the program.
In California DACA recipients can qualify for MediCal, an unmarked driver’s license, and can apply for social security number that can lead to successful credit card, bank account, loan, tax benefits applications and even the possibility to travel abroad with no risk of being rejected when going back to the U.S.
Ford urged all immigrants, documented and undocumented, to stay positive and not let the Supreme Court decision make them feel defeated.
“We should all gather together, form an alliance so we can support candidates who support immigrant’s rights. If we live by the history of the U.S., immigrants are what make us strong and unique that enabled us to be a world power and a world economy,” Ford exhorted.
Filipino community leader Rodel Rodis openly campaigned for Filipinos to vote for Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton who he claims has pledged to uphold DACA, DAPA and work for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. JUN NUCUM
Not in the forum but sought for advice were Filipino immigration lawyer-advocates.
Atty. Lou Tancinco is optimistic that the “temporary Supreme Court defeat” would motivate Filipinos to work hard to make sure that by November 2016 a president who supports the immigrants’ rights will be elected.
“If that happens, then there is hope that these humanitarian options of DAPA and DACA extension will soon move forward,” stressed Tancinco.
“Hang in there, stay away from trouble as most of those I know who are potentially qualified for DAPA and expanded DACA are not on the priority list for enforcement. This means that they are not generally targets for possible removal or deportation.”
Campaigning for Clinton
Filipino community leader Rodel Rodis was more specific as he advised the estimated 500,000 Filipinos tago nang tago (TNTs) in the U.S. affected that they are updated of the news, not to be discouraged and instead “ask their friends and relatives who are and whom they can ask to vote for Hillary Clinton who has pledged to uphold DAPA and work for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.”
Participants in the New America Media (NAM) and San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigration Affairs (OCEIA)-hosted roundtable at the NAM office listen intently as NAM’s media director Odette Keeley (second from left) moderates. JUN NUCUM
“Hillary Clinton’s Republican opponent is an out-and-out anti-immigrant racist who wants to deport at least eleven million “illegals” including the half-million Filipino TNTs. I hope Fil-Am Republicans will consider the fate and welfare of their TNT kababayans when they cast their ballots,” Rodis shared.
Asian Law Alliance Filipino staff attorney Beatrice Ann Pangilinan said the undocumented could take a number of steps now to prepare and protect themselves.
This includes including a legal screening from attorneys and qualified service providers to see if they are eligible for original DACA and other forms of immigration relief such as the U visa (for victims of violent crimes), violence against women act (VAWA), or other petitions.
“Family members and friends who are eligible should apply for citizenship and register to vote if they are U.S. citizens. That way, they can have a say in who will be the leaders of this country who can work on immigration and we can hold them accountable,” Pangilinan advised.
