DACA Supporters Rally in Fresno As Court Weighs Case to End Protections
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
November 12, 2019
DACA supporters rally at the federal courthouse in downtown Fresno on Nov. 12, 2019 (GV Wire/David Taub)

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Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case on the legality of rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, about 40 DACA supporters held a rally at the federal courthouse in downtown Fresno.
DACA gives legal work status — and temporary protection from deportation — for those brought into the United States illegally as children. An estimated 700,000 benefit from DACA. The program was enacted as an executive order by President Barack Obama in 2012 and reversed by Donald Trump five years later.


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The future of the program now rests with the nine justices of the highest court in the land. A combination of activists and elected leaders hope they rule in DACA’s favor.

Recipient Wants to Be an American

America Hernandez
America Hernandez has become the local face of DACA. The 36-year old Fresno woman came to the United States from Mexico when she was three months old. She is a DACA recipient and works as a social services coordinator for an immigrant rights group.
Even if the court rules against DACA, Hernandez says she’s staying.
“It means I continue to fight,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been completely without DACA before. It is difficult, but it’s something that I’ve done, and I will figure it out.”
While DACA does not change her citizenship status, she wants to be an American.
“I would love to not have any fear. I would love to be able to contribute in more significant ways to this country, where I know that it is a permanent thing. Maybe go up and be a representative one day,” Hernandez said.

Issue is ‘Personal’ for Soria

Esmeralda Soria
Fresno councilwoman and congressional candidate Esmeralda Soria led cheers among the crowd to support immigrants. She called the issue personal, noting her sister-in-law and some of her staff are DACA recipients.
“I have seen it intimately how this issue, and how the uncertainty has impacted the lives of people that continue to be in limbo,” Soria said.
She wants Congress, the body she hopes to win an election to join, to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
She supported Obama’s executive order, as a response to what she describes as a broken Congress.
“He used his power through the executive order to create a program that would protect thousands of Dreamers that live, that are working in our society,” she said.
As to her thoughts whether a president could take DACA away via executive order, Soria says she’ll wait to see how the court rules on that argument.

State, City Join DACA Defense

The state of California led the way on many lawsuits against the Trump Administration in order to defend DACA.
“Today, we stood up for American values, the rule of law, and America’s Dreamers,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who attended the proceedings at the Supreme Court in Washington.

“You learn from a very early age that there is a right way and there is a wrong way to do things. The federal government tried to terminate DACA the wrong way. Today, we stand here very proud of the arguments that were made on behalf of the 700,000 DACA recipients. We’re here to stand up for the right way to do things. Together, we’re here to say DACA is legal and an American success story,” Becerra said.
In September, the Fresno City Council voted 5 – 1 to join an amicus brief in support of DACA.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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