LAKEPORT >> Dozens of car horns blared as vehicles passed by a line of signs that read “Honk if you support DACA” and heard chants like “Our dreams are not illegal. We support DREAMers.” That was due to about 60 people that gathered and peacefully demonstrated in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in downtown Lakeport on Tuesday afternoon.
The program protects immigrant youth who came to the United States as children from deportation and allows those eligible to receive work permits.
Protests across the nation spurred over the course of several weeks after the Trump Administration announced their decision to rescind the immigration policy that has shielded nearly 800,000 recipients. People of Lake and some from Mendocino County organized and advocated for a little over two hours in front of the Historic Courthouse Museum.
Community organizer Luisa Acosta, who was a key factor in holding the rally, started actions in Santa Rosa with those affected from the rescindment. In an email statement, Acosta said she organized outside the county due to a lack of resources but wanted to help bring efforts to Lake.
“These kids (DREAMers) attend our schools and continue to work for our employers here in the county,” Acosta said to protesters as she waved an American flag. “I urge you to take action. Call your representatives and demand that they put something better, a good program that can lead to residency and eventually citizenship for our kids.”
In the crowd listening were local families, DREAMers (a term used for DACA recipients), teachers, members of Service Employees Internation Union (SEIU) from Mendocino, residents of the Bay Area, and District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele.
At the demonstration, Steele said, “The state has actually taken the right path by suing the federal government for an improper process. A lot of these folks are my friends. This is exactly where I should be as an elected official, show them that an elected official cares.”
Steele referred to a recent lawsuit filed by California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Main against President Trump on DACA. The lawsuit comes after 15 other states and the District of Colombia first filed suit for the same reason. Many argue that Trump’s order violates due process and would affect the economy, especially in California — more than 200,000 recipients live and work in the state. A 2017 study by the Center for American Progress estimated that losing DACA workers could drop the U.S. gross domestic product by more than $400 billion over the next decade.
California has continued to take further action when Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders announced a plan Tuesday to help those affected by setting aside $30 million. Funds would divide $20 million for immigration legal services and $10 million to provide financial aid for DACA students, in higher education. More specifically, $7 million would go toward community colleges, $2 million to California State University and $1 million to the University of California. The program is under discussion by a legislative committee.
The unknown future of DREAMers is what pulled demonstrators out on the streets, according to a former Kelseyville Elementary teacher. Christie Otto taught at the elementary for 25 years. She said, “We brought some of these children up and we know their talents. This county has DREAMers and I had DREAMers. They stayed in school and went to college. Now, some would have to leave their families, some who are supporting them.”
SEIU member Ceva Giumelli said she showed up because she knows the county has DACA recipients who need to see there is local support. “They pay $462 every two years to stay in the country. A lot of DREAMers are in our union and they are the ones that are going to be leading us in the end,” she added.
Acosta said in her speech during the rally that many county DREAMers were too scared to come out but she hopes that after seeing Tuesday’s demonstration more will be encouraged to “come out of the shadows.” Two DACA recipients, one from Kelseyville and one from Upper Lake, showed up and shared their experiences.
Acosta and attendees are working on future organizations and creating a public communication forum to enhance their actions.
