DACA Concerns, Call For Action Spotlighted At Southold Dem Event

EAST MARION, NY — The crowd at Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant in East Marion Saturday morning came to raise their voices, join together, and find ways to fight back against President Donald's Trump's announcement of his plan to officially end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program — a plan that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

Speakers at the event, "DACA, What You Need To Know — And How You Can Help," organized by the Southold Town Democratic Committee, included Sister Margaret Smyth of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, professor Dinni Gordon of Greenport, who wrote "Village of Immigrants" and has spent years spotlighting issues faced by immigrants, Elder Perez, whose life and future are directly impacted by the future of the DACA program, and George Giannaris, owner of Hellenic, who said the need for workers is dire.

Gordon began by saying with Trump's recent announcement that he would meet with Democrats to possibly protect and "rescue" the DACA program, "This is a subject that changes every other day."

That said, Gordon outlined some facts about the program — impacted are 800,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 35.

"This is a large group of people who are making significant contributions to the United States and who, if this program is ended, will have to retreat back into the shadows," she said.

DACA recipients, she said, are "people who could not make the decision to come on their own. They were too young to make their own decision." Sometimes, Gordon said, the children were sent by their parents to the United States.

"Most have lived here long enough so this is the only country they know," Gordon said, adding that a recent survey done by the University of California San Diego found that the average age of the DACA young person on arrival was six-and-a-half years old.

"Some do not even know the language of the country they are born into," she said.

In addition, she said, 25 percent are old enough now to have children born in the United States.

DACA recipients have achieved higher education at lower rates than native-born students, "primarily because, how do you reconcile your ambitions with the uncertainties that are there?" Gordon said. "A lot of people think their futures are uncertain."

However, a recent survey has indicated that annual earnings had increased 80 percent under DACA, from an average of $20,000 to an average of $36,000; 65 percent had bought a car and 16 percent, become homeowners.

Many DACA recipients work in large corporations; Dreamers who've become entrepreneurs have generated $650 million in business income since the DACA program was implemented, she said.

Of the 800,000 nationwide, there are approximately 42,000 in New York State and 10,000 on Long Island, Gordon said. And, she said, about 500,000 are eligible who have not applied, and about 200,000 will be phased out by 2018, followed by 320,000 in 2019.

Should Trump's decision to end the program move forward, those with permits that expire before March 4, 2018 can apply for renewal but only if they do so by Oct. 5; no other renewals will be permitted. Employers are not allowed to fire these individuals before their permits expire but must do so after. And, if they're retained, these workers could be subject to "exploitation," even not paid, Gordon said.

Should the DACA program end, the Dreamers will not be able to renew their drivers' licenses in all but 12 states, will not be able to receive in-state tuition, and, in most states, will no longer be eligible for Section 8 housing or Medicaid; they will no longer be "legally present" in the United States — and can be removed at will, Gordon said.

Responses to Trump's decision to terminate the program have included demonstrations, state attorney generals suing the Trump administration, large corporations pledging legal representation for any DACA employee threatened with deportation, and the Bridge Act, which would provide 3 years of the same status, Gordon said.

Many believe DACA recipients are critical to the national economy: According to statistics by the Center For American Progress, United We Dream and National Immigration Law Center, after DACA, 69 percent moved to a better paying job, 90 percent got a driver's license or state identification for the first time, 65 percent purchased their first car, 5 percent started their own business, 69 percent saw their average hourly wage rise by 69 percent, and 16 percent purchased their first home.

Riverhead's Elder Perez said like so many others, he's living a life in limbo.

He was brought to the United States at 13 by his parents and his father decided to return home three years later. He decided to stay in the United States but had to forego school and work to pay rent and bills. At 20, he opened his own landscaping business and has a 3 year old child. He is afraid of what the future holds.

Sister Margaret said Perez's words echoed a common thread shared by many DACA recipients; he has a business and four employees but because his DACA expiration date is after March 4, he cannot renew.

"Unless something happens he is out of business and potentially, out of his life in the United States," Sister Margaret said, an eventuality that affects his workers but most of all, his family.

"It's a waiting game right now," she said.

While the day to day changes means nothing is certain, Sister Margaret said, "It's better if we, as a people, begin to let our voices be heard." She advocated writing to politicians and saying that DACA benefits the economy and the nations. "We need to say, 'These are my neighbors," she said. With children growing up side by side, she added, "This might be our future son-in-law or daughter-in-law whose life could be on hold," she said.

Deepest fears are becoming realized, Sister Margaret said. One man whom she's known for years, who has three children, his own company, and immigration papers, got a call to to come in for an interview in Bethpage for a green card. He has never gotten so much as a parking ticket, she said.

He headed to the interview.

And he never came home.

He was arrested and is currently in an immigration detention center in New Jersey, Sister Margaret said, despite the fact that he is licenses, has complied with all requirements and has a work permit."We don't know why," she said.

"People live, always, on the edge of fear," Sister Margaret said.

The nun, who just celebrated 60 years of service to the church, said she was in Southold Town Justice Court Friday advocating for an immigrant who was not being paid collect back wages. While she won, the problem is collecting the money, she said.

Other immigrants are spit on — and face daily abuses such as landlords who won't make repairs, forcing families to live in substandard conditions and afraid to complain and face consequences.

"We are called to be better," Sister Margaret said. "We are called to be able to say and do something that will affect change. You need to have the courage to say, 'We're better than that. We should be paying our employees, speaking up and saying DACA is good for our country."

Ways to help include making donations to help immigrants: One website, she said, is lendingcirclesfordreamers.org. Donations can also be brought to the North Fork Spanish Apostolate in Riverhead, Sister Margaret said.

A workshop hosted by the North Fork Unity Action Committee will be held Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Agnes in Greenport on accompanying undocumented immigrants when they appear in immigration court.

"We need to let people know that this is a community that cares," Sister Margaret said.

Giannaris, who owns Hellenic, said he's focused on spotlighting local foods and wine — and on hiring local employees,

However, there's been a drastic decrease in those locals individual applying for work, he said. Most college students head back to school before Labor Day, problematic because that's one of the busiest weekends of the season.

Three years ago, he met 4 students in the United States for the J-1 visa program, a student work program that allows young people from around the world to seek employment in the United States.

Giannaris spoke of his own experience, hiring "phenomenal" young workers who also lived and worked at the former Soundview and rode bicycles to work.

He then hired 12 employees, working to ensure they were screened via Skype calls, finding places for them to live, driving them to Riverhead to obtain their Social Security cards.

"It's much easier to hire locally — but nobody local was available," Giannaris said. This year, he hired 28 students; of that number, 17 had their visas denied.

Then, came the news that the J-1 visa exchange program was to be cut under the current administration, Giannaris said.

"Just when I come up for a little bit of air, I get drowned again," he said.

Giannaris posted a video about the dilemma on social media that garnered 50,000 views on his Facebook page, asking people to reach out to elected officials to keep the program alive.

He also reached out to Rep. Lee Zeldin.

He recently got a letter, Giannaris said, that amendment was passed that no future action would be taken without public input; the letter was "a strong signal" indicating a "willingness to protect the J-1 visa program." While it does not promise security for the program, Giannaris said, the outpouring of letters and public outcry from business owners made a difference, with the program now back on the table for discussion.

"My voice was heard," he said, something that can happen "if we speak loud enough, and respectfully enough."

He said the biggest gift that's come from welcoming employees from countries including Serbia, Montenegro and Italy is that those young people have become friends; that cultural exchange needs to be embraced, he added.

"Two students said what they earned from working two years was more than they could save in a lifetime in their country," Giannaris said.

And, he added, "I don't see American college kids saying, 'I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and wash 1,000 dishes."

His own father, Giannaris said, came to America when he was an illegal immigrant, was deported, met Giannaris' mom in Belgium, and got married, thus obtaining citizenship.

"Ultimately, we are the foundation, the roots for any bureaucracy in place," Giannaris said. "Press forward. Speak your minds. The worst thing you can do is be inactive. Be proactive."

Guests asked about whether Southold could be a sanctuary town. Greenport Village Trustee Doug Roberts said, because Greenport does not have its own police department, the subject was moot, but the village declared itself a "welcoming community" in February.

He urged voters to learn where all town board candidates stand on the issue, as the Southold Town board also acts as police commissioners. And, he said, regarding the welcoming community designation, "If the Town of Southold wanted to do something similar, they'd have a ton of support."