DACA Recipients in Charlotte Awaiting Trump Announcement on Future of Program

CHARLOTTE, NC – Tuesday, President Donald Trump is expected to announce that he is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. It allows young undocumented immigrants to work and study legally in the U.S.

The President is expected to leave a six-month window to allow Congress to act. Former President Obama started DACA under an executive order, which some argue was illegal.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s kinda unpredictable to know what he’s going to do,” explains Charlotte DACA recipient Tania Barron.

She says her life changed after getting the opportunity to come out of the shadows.

“I was able to move out of my parents house and, you know make a living for myself and my child,” she explains.

Barron was born in Mexico. Her parents brought her to Charlotte when she was just five years old.

Hundreds rallied in cities like Atlanta Monday urging the president to keep DACA.

“It’s stressful. Very stressful,” explains Charlotte DACA recipient Alan Rodriguez. He has been on DACA for the past four years.

His parents brought him to Charlotte when he was 14. He says the program has made a huge difference.

“I can drive. I can go to school. I’m currently in college right now,” he says.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says there’s a humane way to solve the issue.

“I think this is something Congress needs to fix. The president prior, Obama, he was wrong in doing this, because you can’t have the executive just legislate out of thin air,” Ryan said.

Barron and other dreamers say they’re worried what would happen if lawmakers fail.

“Well, the thing with that is no guarantee. So, that’s my main concern,” Barron says.

Some have also cautioned the president’s plan is not finalized.

He has been looking at this issue for months and is also known to often change his mind at the last minute.