Undocumented youth stay active as they wait for administrative relief

LOS ANGELES – As undocumented Asian-American youth wait for President Barack Obama’s announcement of possible administrative actions on immigration, they continue to share their families’ stories and the need for immigration relief.

“It’s not just the Latino community, it’s an Asian Pacific Islander community who are affected by undocumented immigration who are also pressuring the administration for administrative relief,” said Seth Ronquillo, a DACA recipient, “and bring relief to stop separating families through deportation.”

Many of these once undocumented students have availed of DACA – the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Community groups have given recommendations to the president, and immigration and homeland security officials.

“Whatever affects one undocumented immigrant really affects the entire undocumented immigrant community,” said Ronquillo, “and we can’t just think of our parents and families, but really think of the broader context of undocumented immigrants.”

“We are looking towards to the president and his leadership to really fall through in making a big, bold, and inclusive administrative relief decision,” said Anthony Ng, a local advocate, “that would help alleviate the fear of 11 million undocumented folks living here.”

Immigrants and their advocates hope that immigration relief can also pass through legislation because there is no guarantee that any of the administrative actions President Obama may give will go past his term.

Republican leaders have vowed to fight any relief that the president may announce.

Advocates will lobby for a more comprehensive bill to eventually pass through Congress, despite the result of this month’s midterm elections, where Republicans have won a majority of both the House and Senate.

“Regardless who’s the majority or in the House, I think immigrant rights advocates will always fight for the rights of families and individuals,” said Ng, who is part of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “We are willing to work with anyone willing to craft policies and legislation that makes sense to us, that is going to provide relief to our communities.”

The president is expected to make his announcement by mid December, after delaying it from the end of summer to after the elections.