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Where To Rally In Support Of DACA Today In Los Angeles [Updated]
Dana Herrera, a 23-year-old DACA beneficiary, at Friday's rally downtown. (Photo by Julia Wick/LAist )
On Tuesday morning, Attorney General Jeff Session formally rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, delivering the Trump administration's long-awaited decision the program's fate. As suggested in a series of early morning tweets by the president, the Trump administration will end the program with a partial delay, putting the onus of Congress to act. The DACA program that has provided work authorization and deportation relief for nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants since 2012, when it was implemented through an executive order by then-President Barack Obama.
The future of the program and the fate of the DREAM-ers (as participants are known) has hung precariously in the balance since President Trump was elected in November. Trump had pledged to "immediately" end the program while on the campaign trail, but he changed his tune slightly not long after taking office, saying that DREAM-ers "shouldn't be very worried" because he was "looking at it with great heart." Hundreds of thousands of young undocumented Americans have lived the past ten months under a grave cloud of uncertainty, unsure of whether they would soon no longer be able to work legally in this country, or lose protection from deportation. Last week, activists across the nation led actions in support of the program ahead of the forthcoming decision from the White House, which had initially been expected late last week.
"It just feels like my heart is breaking," Dana Herrera, a 23-year-old DACA beneficiary told LAist at a rally in support of DACA in downtown Los Angeles Friday. "With DACA, I've been able to work and go to school," Herrera said.
The end of the DACA program would have a disproportionate effect on California, which is home to north of 200,000 DACA beneficiaries—more than any other state. "Ending this program would have an outsize effect on California, as more than a quarter of DACA grantees live in our state," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in July. "That’s more than 200,000 young people who are working and contributing to our economy, buying their first car or their first home, and making their community a better place to live," Becerra continued, pledging to "do everything in my power as Attorney General for the state of California to defend DACA and the young people who make countless contributions to our state and country."
Angelenos plan to rally in support of DACA Tuesday. Here's where to join them:
Press conference and rally to denounce repeal of DACA at 10 a.m.
Led by the CHIRLA, immigrant families, young immigrants protected by DACA, immigration reform advocates and allies will rally and hold a press conference outside of the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles at 10 a.m.
The Edward Roybal Federal Building is located at 255 E. Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles.
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UCLA rally at 4 p.m.
BAMN, the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary will hold a rally at UCLA's Bruin Plaza at 4 p.m.
Bruin Plaza is located at 325 Westwood Plaza in Westwood.
National DACA Mobilization Day rally at 5 p.m.
UndocuMedia, CHIRLA and the CA Dream Network will be holding a rally at Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles at 5 p.m.
Placita Olvera is located at 845 N Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles.
DACA Healing Circle (for DACA recipients only) at 7 p.m.
CHIRLA will be holding a safe space for DACA recipients tonight at their L.A. offices to "lift up the spirits of individuals who have been affected by the decisions and treatment towards immigrant communities by this administration, provide an immediate safe space for those seeking companionship amongst those directly affected and encourage individuals to take part in support activities, conversations, and testimonies." This event is only open to DACA recipients and will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
CHIRLA is located at 2533 W. Third Street in the Westlake neighborhood.
Defend DACA rally in San Bernardino at 5:30 p.m.
There will be a rally outside of the Department of Homeland Security building in San Bernardino from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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The rally will be held outside of 655 W Rialto Avenue in San Bernardino.
We will update this post as more events are added.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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