Una "Dreamer" que se postula para el Senado de Nuevo México dice que un plan de la administración Biden para crear vías que permitan a los beneficiarios de DACA obtener estatus legal más rápidamente, podría alentar a otros a seguir su ejemplo.

La demócrata Cindy Nava ganó las primarias del Senado del Distrito 9 del estado a principios de este mes para enfrentarse a la republicana Audrey Trujillo en las elecciones de noviembre. Nava trabajó en la Cámara de Representantes de Nuevo México bajo la representación de legisladores demócratas durante una década, pero no podía cobrar porque era indocumentada. Finalmente se inscribió en el programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia, o DACA por sus siglas en inglés, y se convirtió en ciudadana estadounidense a través del matrimonio.

"Creo que nuestras familias provienen de un lugar donde siempre hemos tenido miedo, y mis propios padres me lo dicen día a día, pero aprendemos a vivir con ese miedo y a desarrollar resiliencia para seguir adelante," expresó Nava.

El programa DACA, que existe desde hace 12 años, brinda protección contra la deportación y autorización de trabajo para jóvenes indocumentados que llegaron siendo niños y crecieron en Estados Unidos. La reciente iniciativa de Biden permitiría a quienes obtuvieron un título universitario, y recibieron una oferta de empleo de un empleador estadounidense en un campo relacionado con su título, recibir visas de trabajo más rápidamente.

Nacida en Chihuahua, México, Nava creció en Albuquerque y Santa Fe. Ella dice que la población estadounidense está cambiando y predice que pronto los beneficiarios de DACA ocuparán escaños en el Congreso. Pero cree que necesitan un camino más estable que requerirá cooperación bipartidista en todos los niveles de gobierno.

"Nuevo México es un gran ejemplo de líderes que han invertido en abrir oportunidades para los inmigrantes, desde oportunidades educativas hasta licencias de conducir para inmigrantes. Entonces, todas esas cosas realmente pueden llevarse a cabo a nivel estatal y pueden ser profundamente significativas," insistió también Nava.

Actualmente hay alrededor de 600.000 beneficiarios de DACA en todo el país, y más del 75% están empleados en la fuerza laboral.


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A "Dreamer" running for the New Mexico Senate said a Biden administration plan to create pathways allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals beneficiaries to more quickly gain legal status could encourage others to follow her lead.

Cindy Nava bested her primary opponent earlier this month to face Republican Audrey Trujillo in November for the state's Senate District 9 seat. Nava was the first DACA recipient to receive a presidential appointment as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Nava worked in the New Mexico Statehouse on behalf of Democratic lawmakers for a decade but could not get paid because she was undocumented. She eventually enrolled in the DACA program and became a U.S. citizen through marriage.

"I believe our families come from a place where we have always been afraid and my own parents tell me day to day," Nava pointed out. "But we learn to live with that fear and build resilience to work forward."

The 12-year-old DACA program provides protection from deportation and work authorization for undocumented young people who arrived as children and grew up in the U.S. The recent Biden initiative would allow those who have earned a college degree and received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree to more quickly receive work visas.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Nava grew up in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. She noted the U.S. population is shifting and predicted soon, DACA recipients will be occupying seats in Congress. She believes they need a more stable pathway, requiring bipartisan cooperation at all levels of government.

"New Mexico's a great example of having leaders who have invested in opening opportunities for immigrants, from educational opportunities to driver's licenses for immigrants," Nava emphasized. "All of those things actually can be undertaken at a state level, and can be deeply meaningful."

There are currently about 600,000 DACA recipients across the country, with more than 75% in the workforce.


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June is National Immigrant Heritage Month, and advocates in Utah want to see a pathway to U.S. citizenship include easier access to public lands and waters for immigrants who take the Oath of Allegiance each year.

Olivia Juarez, public lands program director for the group GreenLatinos, one of the 68 organizations which sent a letter to federal land management agencies and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, calling for them to provide an America the Beautiful Pass to newly naturalized citizens as a "welcome gift."

Juarez pointed out advocates would also like agencies to consider barriers cashless entry to National Parks can have on unbanked individuals. Juarez contended those who complete the lengthy and at times complex naturalization process should be given an opportunity to connect with the lands they have a right to.

"There is the benefit, of course, like fomenting a population that cares about public lands and wants to make sure that they're healthy and here for future generations," Juarez explained. "But it also provides direct benefits in terms of public health."

Juarez stressed when people have access to clean, pristine natural recreation areas, they also tend to have better physical and mental health. GreenLatinos would also like to see cooperative efforts to host swearing-in ceremonies on public land recreation sites to cultivate deeper, more meaningful connections with the landscape.

Almost 9% of Utah's residents are foreign-born, according to the American Immigration Council. Juarez considers Utah to be one of the most welcoming states in the nation for immigrants and also called it home to some of the most famous national parks, like Arches and Canyonlands.

"When people end up in Utah because they're seeking asylum, they don't necessarily come here knowing that we have these amazing five national parks that are world-class and world renowned for their incredible environmental characteristics," Juarez observed.

Juarez added underrepresented communities of color, including immigrant communities and families, face many barriers when trying to access national parks and public lands -- such as distance, cost and lack of familiarity. They said more can and should be done to provide newly naturalized citizens with greater access to the best our country has to offer.

Michigan's government officials, immigration-reform groups and families affected by immigration policies, are celebrating President Joe Biden's recent executive action.

The order offers work permits and legal status to long-term immigrants, including those married to U.S. citizens under the conditions they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and have no criminal record. The plan mirrors the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in 2012.

Michigan is home to about 90,000 undocumented immigrants.

Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, spoke at a gathering supporting Biden's new policy.

"What the Biden administration did is consistent with the values of our country and as a state," Pohutsky contended. "It upholds the dignity and justice of our families. We can have greater security on the border and we can have compassion for those who've been in our communities and have families."

Those opposed to Biden's new immigration plan, particularly Republicans, said it invites people to break America's laws. The nation has approximately 500,000 unauthorized immigrants married to U.S. citizens.

Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, does not support the president's new immigration policy.

"In America, you don't reward people for breaking the law," Nesbitt asserted. "This new proposal does just that. Instead of focusing on strengthening our southern border, the Biden administration has decided to propose another amnesty plan for those who violated our nation's laws and our sovereignty."

Critics of the new policy also maintain it puts the safety of Americans at risk, especially those who live in border states. Supporters argued long-term undocumented immigrants have lived on average for 15 years in the U.S., working, paying taxes and raising American children, and they believe the president's new policy will help keep families together, boost the economy and grow the workforce.


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