Fear brewing among RI DACA recipients

Fear is growing for the thousand plus DACA recipients here in Rhode Island who are now questioning what life will be like in the months to come.

Rodrigo Pimentel is one of those so-called dreamers. He came here from Portugal when he was 10 months old. He spoke up during a press conference in Central Falls Tuesday afternoon.

"I studied in our schools; I have friends in the neighborhood and lead a typical American life. I’m American in every regard and especially in my heart, but just not on paper,” said Pimentel.

Hours after the U.S. Attorney General announced plans to end the program, Pimentel’s mind is spiraling with worst case scenarios.

"I am deeply concerned that this will leave me helplessly in limbo or worse, face deportation,” said Pimentel.

Javier Juarez is a Brown Graduate student with ambitions of going to Harvard. He’s also a Rhode Island DACA recipient.

"I have persevered to become a contributing member of society and a stand up citizen. I am saddened that I no longer have the legal status to protect me to continue doing the good work and the advocacy work that I’ve been doing this year,” said Juarez.

There are more than 1,200 DACA recipients in the state of Rhode Island. So now, the question becomes what should they be doing at this point? We asked an expert from Roger Williams University.

"They should be seeking out the advice of an attorney to see if there’s some sort of relief that they may be eligible for in the event that they are placed in removal proceedings or is there something that they can do affirmatively without actually being placed in removal proceedings,” said Deborah Gonzalez the Director of the Immigration Clinic at RWU.

With the decision now in the hands of Congress the two dreamers we spoke with are ready to fight for their  rights.

"DACA gave me the courage to dream big. This is why I will fight for our right to contribute to be productive members of society,” said Juarez.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin says he’s joining other AG’s from across the country to legally challenge this decision.

Other state leaders including Governor Raimondo have also said they will fight for DACA recipients here in Rhode Island.