Since knowing that Donald Trump will return to the White House, Angel Palazuelos has not slept much: at 22, this young undocumented migrant from Phoenix, Arizona, is haunted by the promises of deportation from mass of the new president.
“I was terrified”upon hearing the news, confides this recently graduated biomedical engineering student. “I'm afraid of being deported, of losing everything I've worked so hard for and, above all, of being separated from my family”he adds. This young Mexican has lived in the United States since he was 4 years old. He is one of the famous « dreamers »these migrants who arrived as children who were tolerated, without ever obtaining American nationality.
Throughout the campaign, he heard the Republican billionaire hammer out his violent rhetoric towards migrants who “poison the blood” American, just like its plan for mass deportations.
At 35, Jose Patiño feels “dread” and the “sadness”. Because he knows that his situation is more fragile than ever. This Mexican, employee of the association helping undocumented immigrants Aliento, has lived in the United States since he was 6 years old. Thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program, created under Barack Obama, he benefited from protections and managed to obtain a work permit. But this authorization expires in 2025, and Donald Trump wants to put an end to Daca. Plunged into uncertainty, José Patiño plans to move to a state that would refuse to report him to the authorities, such as California or Colorado.
“We contribute to this countryhe recalls. That's what's difficult, is that following the rules, working, paying my taxes, helping this country develop, it's not enough. (…) It’s frustrating and hurtful. »
