Activists in Oklahoma City last week celebrated the second anniversary of the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – a controversial program that allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to remain temporarily.
At the gathering Friday afternoon at a bakery along SW 29th Street the group Dream Act Oklahoma cut a birthday cake and celebrated the 2012 implementation of DACA.
“But as we celebrate, we’re reminded of those of us who are still under the imminent threat of deportation,” Dream Act Oklahoma spokeswoman Judith Huerta said in a statement. “We think of our parents, whose sacrifices remain to be honored, and we will continue fighting to make sure that President Obama builds on the success of DACA, and provides the same relief to parents of Dreamers, and to the full immigrant community.”
28-year-old Angelica Villa Lobos says her father brought her to the United States when she was 10.
"Ever since DACA I've been able to do a lot of the things that I wanted to do," Villa Lobos says. "I volunteer at the YMCA as a soccer coach. I volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well. I'm a wish-granter there. What's next? I hope I don't get deported."
Dream Act Oklahoma figures indicate about 4,500 people in the state and 600,000 nationwide benefit from the act.
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