Daniela Pelaez ’16 recently obtained permission to stay in the U.S. for another two years through the Deferred Action for Child Arrival act. She is the first undocumented immigrant granted a two-year stay and extension under this act. Paleaz became the first undocumented immigrant a two-year stay and extension under the DOCA two years ago.
Can you tell me a little bit more about the process you went through to get permission to stay for another two years?
DP: It’s basically a lot of paperwork. It’s a new application that the USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration] website puts up. I had to do all these things — they call it packets — so you have to fill out this packet and have proof that you came into this country at a certain time, that you’re a certain age, that you’re a kind of student. It’s an inconvenience because my family can’t help with anything, so it’s basically me, so that was rough. But on the 22nd of July I got it; they send you an approval notice and you’re just like “Yay, another two years!”
On an emotional level, how was it?
DP: It was like, here I am, having to ask for permission for someone to let me stay here. It’s always that sentiment I have to carry with me that I have to justify my being here. I try not to think about it, because otherwise it consumes you. You have to be grateful. I just have to be grateful I’m here. I guess that makes my Dartmouth experience a little more different. I’m really in love with this campus that gave me the benefit, because they could’ve said no, and a lot of schools I applied to did say no.
At any point were you worried that it wasn’t going to go through?
DP: Yeah, definitely. The Republicans ,it’s been very ongoing that they are really opposed to DACA, so at any moment it’s like, well, they could change it and they could just not give it to you. But again, it’s something that you can’t let consume you, otherwise you just go crazy.
How did you feel when you first heard that you received the permission? What was your reaction?
DP: It was bittersweet. I was really grateful to get two years, but then it was also like, “Oh yeah, two years.” It’s really just a reminder that I’m living my life in two-year increments. And it was just like, “Oh, I’ll have to deal with this again in two years.”
How does this affect your future plans, and what are your hopes moving forward?
DP: Let’s hope that Congress finds some immigration reform or let’s hope that my lawyer finds another way for me to become legalized. I’m pre-med, and I just really want to go to med school, be a doctor and help people. It’s just so hard, and it’s constantly like I have to look at med schools, but not just any one that I want. I have to look at ones that accept DACA students, immigrant students, undocumented students.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
