‘Small step towards a big fight’: El Paso Dreamers react to decision upholding DACA
EL PASO, Texas -- Nearly 1,500 in the Borderland are breathing a sigh of relief after hearing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“It’s been really scary living on a tight rope," said David Gamez, just one of about 650,000 Dreamers living in the United States. "You have to be careful with every step you make.”
Gamez moved to the U.S. from Cancun in Mexico when he was 10 years old after Hurricane Wilma destroyed his home. He went to El Paso High School and is currently working towards earning his bachelors degree at the University of Texas at El Paso.
He said he was excited to hear the news as well as Viridiana Villa, who moved to the U.S. when she was 15. Villa, who is now a teacher at El Paso Community College, told ABC-7 she signed up for DACA the moment it was created by former President Barack Obama in 2017.
"Its a small step towards the big fight for DACA recipients," Villa said. Villa and Gamez said they're celebrating now, but the next step for them is a path to citizenship.
“We still need to complete what this program started which is getting us rights to be here, apply (for) citizenship, live without fear of deportation,” Villa said.
