DACA recipient on federal judge’s order: ‘It gave us more hope’

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A federal judge in D.C. is going against President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates is giving the Department of Homeland Security 90 days to come up with a more solid reason to end DACA.

“We were able to breathe a little more. It gave us more hope,” said Jorge Buenrostro, a DACA recipient. “Just the fact that more people are going to be able to qualify and they’re going to have the same opportunities that we had when we applied.”

Buenrostro and hundreds of thousands more people could get the opportunity to enroll and re-enroll in the DACA Program, because of Judge Bates’ order.

“To be able to get their driver’s license, to be able to work legally go to school,” said Buenrostro.

Twelve years ago, Buenrostro left Mexico to come to the United States with his parents, without legal documents. He credits DACA for the opportunity he had to stay in the U.S., work, and go to school.

“This is the biggest win thus far for Dreamers,” said Macon Immigration Attorney Ashley Deadwyler-Heuman. “And it gives us hope that we’ve got federal judges all around the country that are really taking the time to review this on a case by case basis.”

Deadwyler-Heuman, says the decision made in federal court Tuesday gives DACA recipients a reason to keep pushing.

“I think he’s not going to be persuaded even after the 90 days, I’m hopeful at least that he would not be persuaded by any additional arguments,” said Deadwyler Heuman.

Buenrostro’s hopeful too.

“All we want to do is to help and give back to the community,” said Buenrostro. “And if we have DACA, we’ll be able to do that.”

Right now, people who are DACA recipients are eligible to re-new their applications. Judge Bates’ order would allow new enrollment and more people to apply for DACA.

Judge Bates is the third judge to go against ending DACA.