Fear grips Korean 'dreamers' in US
By Jane Han
President Donald Trump's decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative is worrying tens of thousands of young Korean “dreamers” in the United States. AFP-Yonhap
SAN FRANCISCO ― Tens of thousands of Koreans in the U.S. are in fear and uncertainty as they face an impending shutdown of a controversial immigration program that protected young people illegally brought to America by their parents from deportation.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that his administration will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a policy shielding undocumented immigrants that was instituted via an executive order by former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.
This dramatic shift in federal policy, which is set to take effect six months from now, is expected to impact an estimated 800,000 DACA beneficiaries, also known as dreamers, of which close to 20,000 are Koreans, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This is dreadful news for many Korean families and communities throughout the country.
``No one knows what kind of life I've lived, what kind of life my parents lived,'' said Kim, 32, who didn't want to disclose her full name, while attending a protest against Trump's DACA decision in San Francisco on Tuesday.
Thousands turned out at the rally, which was held on the fifth anniversary of the Obama-era program.
``I admit my parents came to the U.S. illegally. They know they were wrong, but that was a difficult and painful decision they had to make,'' she said, ``and they've been up countless sleepless nights feeling guilty and sorry that their daughter won't ever be able to live a legitimate life here in the U.S.''
``But the DACA program came along and it saved me. It saved us,'' said Kim, holding back tears. ``I was able to attend school and even land my first job, all legally. If DACA gets cut off, everything will fall apart.''
Like Kim, many DACA recipients fear terminating the policy will shatter their lives and split up families.
Immigration experts say DACA applicants and recipients have turned over sensitive personal information, such as fingerprints, to the federal government during the application process, which leaves them more vulnerable to deportation once DACA ends.
``Now that the law of the land has changed, DACA beneficiaries may have been better off not signing up to begin with,'' said Shawn Lee, an immigration lawyer based in Seattle. ``It's unfortunately possible that applicants' personal information may be used against them, but I don't think deportation will happen immediately even after the termination takes effect.''
He, however, said simple and minor offenses, such as a traffic laws, may ultimately lead to deportation in the worst case scenario, warning DACA recipients to be careful and cautious.
Desperate stories have been piling up on online forums, where anxious family and friends tried getting advice for their loved ones.
``I can't and don't want to imagine my son and daughter getting kicked out of this country,'' wrote one mother, who says she, too, will have to leave if either of her children gets deported.
Another user, seeking help, wrote, ``It's devastating that I now have to go back to living a life of uncertainty. I don't know what immediate steps I need to take in order to give my best shot at securing legal status here.''
Several local Korean organizations across the country have begun operating hotlines to provide advice and help those who will be affected by DACA's termination.