Helping DREAMers know their rights

Recent changes to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program have shaken the DREAMer community across the Kansas City metro, leaving more questions than answers about whether to apply or re-apply for DACA status.

SHAFFER, 41 ACTIONNEWS...THOSE APPLYING FOR THEDEFERRED ACTION FORCHILDHOOD ARRIVALS --OR DACA PROGAM -- AREDEALING WITH NEWCHANGES -- ANNOUNCEDBY THE WHITE HOUSELAST MONTHSOME CHANGES INCLUDE-- APPLICATIONS BEINGLIMTED TO ONLY ONE YEAR-- INSTEAD OF TWO.AND IT'S SHAKEN THEDREAMER COMMUNITYABOUT WHETHER OR NOTTO APPLY.41 ACTION NEWS ANCHORGABRIELLA PAGAN SPOKEWITH TWO DACARECIPIENTS WORKING TOHELP DREAMERSUNDERSTAND THEIRRIGHTS.Darianna Seto/ DACA Recipientsince May 18, 2015)"I came here when I was 5years old."DARIANNA SETO ARRIVEDIN THE U.S. WITH HERFAMILY MARCH 23, 2005 TOACHIEVE WHAT MANYDACA RECIPIENTS WILLTELL YOU IS THEAMERICAN DREAM.Janeth Garcia/ DACA Recipient" I mean that was the wholegoal is to chase the Americandream."AT 7 - SO DID JANETHGARCIA ALONG WITH HERMOM AND SISTER.Seto" i'm 20 years old now so 16years being an immigrant..

Ithasn't been easy at all."FOR YEARS THEY HAVBOTH HID THEIR DACASTATUS OUT OF FEUNTIL RECENT CHANGES INIT'S POLICY...Seto"I came here because myparents wanted to give me abetter future and so Icontribute to this country justas much as someone who isborn here, I pay taxes and forthe government to not give merights, I can't vote, it's likeitjust doesn't sit right with me."BOTH ARE NOWORGANIZING DACA RALLIES-- TO HELP DREAMERUNDERSTAND THEIRSTATUS AND THECrawfo"We get caught up in thenotion of birth here makes uAmericans and I think that's alesson that we've got to re-look at and these kids are theway to learn that lesson."IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYMICHAEL SHARMA-CRAWFORD SAYSKNOWING YOUR STATUS ISCRITICAL.Crawford"If you don't know how you gothere you may be losing onthings."ALONG WITHUNDERSTANDING YOURAPPLICATION PROCESS.Crawfo"I mean the idea is what'sgoing to save you in removalproceedings?"SETO'S STATUS EXPIRESNEXT MAY.GARCIA HAS TO RE APPLYTHIS MONTHAND WHILESHE IS SAFE, SHE SAYSTHE REST OF HER FAMILYIS NOT.Garc"My whole family is at risk ofdeportation so you knowI want to make sure that Iset so that I can set up myfamily for success becauthat's what we came for, we'renot criminals they labeled usas criminals, rapists,terroristsour people don't come here forthat."IN KANSAS CITY, GP, 41ACTION NEWS.THERE IS ANOTHER RALLYFRIDAY NIGHT FROM 6-30UNTIL 8-30 AT THEFEDERAL COURTHOUSE ON