b'DREAMERS Overcome AdversitiesAna is a Dreamer. Her parents brought her to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 14. In 2012, when she was 23 years old, Puente helped Ana apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and she has been renewing her permit every two years. Like most Dreamers, DACA has opened many doors for Ana. First, she completed her general degree in social science at Foothill College, and she is now studying to become a licensed radiology technician. Ana said, By June 2021, Ill be graduating. And if all goes well, Ill be able to take the test for my license. If I didnt have DACA, I wouldnt be able to take that test because it requires a social security number.Countless DACA recipients are members of mixed-status families who are counting onAna Barron receiving her degree from Foothill College.their love and support. There are overAna Barron recibiendo su ttulo de Foothill College.254,000 U.S.-born children who have at least one parent who holds DACA. AnasSince 2012, Puente has assisted 11-year old son, Maximiliano, is stressed28local youth to apply for DACA about losing his mom. He does ask what DACA is and I have tried to explain it toand has led81DACA renewal him. He asked me, So if you have to goapplications.to Mexico, you can come back? and I said no. DACA is an Obama-era executive action that provides temporary work authorization and protection from deportation to undocumented young people who were brought to the U.S. as children. Over the past four years, the current administration has worked to rescind DACA. These constantly changing political and legal conditions create a stressful and uncertain environment for the 650,000 DACA recipients.Dreamers like Ana are people we are proud of in our community. They inspire us to continue fighting for an immigration reform that doesnt ignore them any longer, says Rita Mancera, Executive Director.Since the DACA program began in 2012, Puente has assisted 28 local youth to get DACA and has filed 81 renewal applications. To maintain their DACA status, individuals must file their DACA renewal applications every two years. Puente plans to serve more youth who will benefit from DACA by helping them file their renewal applications with the support of a Puente staff member who is Accredited with the Board of Immigration Appeals. Puente paid the DACA renewal fee for all the local youth who applied this year.4'