Arizona DACA Recipients Face Uncertainty After Court Ruling

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful, creating a wave of uncertainty and anxiety among Arizona recipients.

Pedro Gonzalez Aboyte, a DACA recipient who arrived in the U.S. from Sinaloa at the age of two, is closely following these developments.

Now working with Aliento, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to immigrants, Gonzalez Aboyte shared how the recent ruling has heightened an already constant sense of worry.

“It’s very difficult to keep doing what we’re doing day-to-day while also worrying about the future,” Gonzalez Aboyte said.

Although the ruling deemed DACA unlawful, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has confirmed it will continue to process renewals for current recipients. New applications, however, will not be processed at this time.

For Gonzalez Aboyte and others in the program, this means they can temporarily maintain their status.

Gonzalez Aboyte emphasized the stringent requirements for DACA eligibility.

“To be a DACA recipient, we have to be in good standing. We must either be attending school, holding a job, or working, all while having little to no criminal record. We’re just trying to live our lives here.”

Despite the temporary relief of being able to renew his status, Gonzalez Aboyte is deeply concerned about the broader implications of the ruling.

As a member of a mixed-status family, he fears that new executive orders could put his loved ones at risk of deportation.

“My family is always on my mind,” he said. “I need to stay aware of any ICE activity or raids to ensure my family’s safety and the safety of the community we work for.”

Looking ahead, Gonzalez Aboyte aspires to pursue a master’s degree but is uncertain about the future of DACA under the current administration.

“I feel more now than ever that DACA might end,” he admitted. “I need to figure out what comes next.”

The recent ruling has left thousands of Arizona DACA recipients grappling with uncertainty, balancing their daily responsibilities with the looming question of what the future holds.