This browser does not support the Video element.
New pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients
After four years of hardline immigration policies, thousands of New Yorkers are hopeful the new Biden administration will bring relief to their communities with a possible pathway to citizenship.
NEW YORK - The last four years under Trump’s administration have been stressful for some DACA recipients. They tell us they feared for their safety in the States - the place where they’ve built their home.
When Barack Obama was President he signed a DACA policy allowing these women and hundreds of thousands like them to get renewable work permits to keep them from being deported. But former President Trump rescinded the policy.
"I think there was a disconnect in the previous system," said DACA recipient Luz Angela Ochoa. "At any point, we could’ve been taken from our home."
Now President Joe Biden is undoing work from the previous administration and has outlined an ambitious immigration agenda. It includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in eight years with a fast-track 3-year plan for DACA recipients, those with temporary protected status and agricultural workers.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Biden lifts Muslim travel ban
On his first day in office, Joe Biden began the process of dismantling former President Donald Trump's signature immigration policies, including lifting a controversial travel ban on people from at least a dozen majority-Muslim nations.
"I have the peace of mind knowing no one can take me away from my children," said Eliana Fernandez.
Experts tell us there are some 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
"We’ve already seen great improvement," said Yaritza Mendez with Make the Road New York.
On Long Island we have over 500,000 immigrants - approximately 1 in five is undocumented.
"They feel this country that they’ve been a part of for so many years is now accepting them with open arms," said Elise de Castillo, executive director of the Central American Refugee Center.
Emili Prado who has worked on the frontlines helping the immigrant community throughout the pandemic tells us she’s cautiously optimistic.
"We’re going to keep pushing the Biden administration to follow through on what he’s promised," she said.
We’re going to keep organizing and pushing the Biden administration to go through on what they’ve promised our community
They’ve grown families, made friends and finally feeling like they belong.