Anger at Obama over Immigration

DB: Remind us of what DACA and DOPA meant. What are the remedies?

JG: The original DACA is the federal program that would extend the work permit. It meant we are not a priority for deportation so we can have work permits and social security cards. It includes the opportunity under a provision of the program called advance to visit a home country or leave the U.S. under certain specific circumstances. It was meant for youth who came here at a young age like myself -- I was one-year old and have been here ever since. DAPA was meant for parents who have U.S. citizen-born children or who are legally here. It was meant for parents -- taking the premise of DACA and expanding it for parents of U.S.-born children. Even if DACA or DAPA were extended, it still wouldn't cover everybody. We are still looking to push for protection for all undocumented families, but it would have been a huge benefit, a huge step forward for so many of our families who are at risk.

It is even more worrisome when the President says he is continuing with these enforcement policies, not only for the folks undocumented here for a number of years, but also the Central American families and refugees who have been coming to the U.S. for safety. This administration is not looking at the humanity of so many of our brothers and sisters who are coming to the U.S. and need our protection, and instead are turning them away. We are calling upon the President to extend the temporary protection status to the Central American brother and sister refugees who are coming and need a hand.

DB: This stepped-up deportation policy is in the hands of Homeland Security, so it's put in the context of national security risk. They act as if it's not a humanitarian situation, but one dealing with terrorists. What is your response to it being described as terrorism and not human rights?

JG: It's not unlike what we saw recently with the Congressional Democrats conducting a sit-in in the House. At first blush, no fly/no buy sounds good. Who would want guns in the hand of terrorists? But people need to look deeper into it. There is a "terror watch list" of people who can't fly, but the list is very xenophobic and unfairly targets Muslims. It's a list that doesn't have much oversight and is born out of a very nationalistic, xenophobic perception of our Muslim brothers and sisters who are unfairly targeted.

Some of these policies that the Department of Homeland Security are pushing are similar to what's happening in England and other parts of the world, where the far-right very nationalistic, xenophobic reaction to immigrants is ugly. We are seeing them implemented in these policies. Central American refugees are refugees who need to be seen through a humanitarian lens, not through some "terror" lens. It's missing the needs of these folks that we need to protect and help. It's a reflection of a far-right nationalism and xenophobia that is on the rise and that we need to be combating.

DB: Do you think that Trump and his anti-immigrant policies have made it worse than Hillary Clinton's policies as the Secretary of State, like supporting or sustaining of dictatorships in Honduras and elsewhere? How do you see that on the policy level?

JG: It would be easy to point to Trump and say he's the bogeyman. Trump has had an effect of localizing some of this far-right extremism. But we can't look past Democrats who have also been contributing to this. It's both sides of the aisle. With Hillary Clinton, we only need to look at when she was asked about her stance on the plight of refugees coming from Central America -- she was in support of sending many families back to Central America.

DB: She also lectured parents about jeopardizing their children's safety by allowing them to immigrate, because it's so dangerous. Of course, it's dangerous to stay as well.

JG: The last thing we need is to be lectured about our own fight in our community. What we need for our brothers and sisters is some sorts of asylum, protection -- not have people incarcerated for leaving the horrific conditions in Central America. There is plenty of blame to go around for both parties.

DB: You were at the White House, with the President when the Dreamer DOCA was just announced. If you could have a sit down with the President now, what would you tell him?

JG: I don't think I'd do it. I'd have my mom sit down and talk with him about what this would mean to her and my dad and why it's important. I've said my piece. We are doing this work with day laborers and immigrant youth. I have some privilege from my work permit now. He needs to hear from those most affected by these policies. Even though what happens to my mom and dad affects me, it's best that he hear from them.