Contact: Jessica Schmidt, Jessica@vdlf.org, 414.469.9206
On November 12th the U.S. Supreme Court will take up President Trump’s appeal for removal of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival). Voces de la Frontera Action and YES! are participating in national actions on the 12th to demonstrate how the Court’s decision could affect up to 8,000 DACA recipients in Wisconsin alone. A press conference will highlight the personal stories of local DACA recipients and individuals affected by deportations and family separation.
Who: Voces de la Frontera Action and YES! (Youth Empowered in the Struggle) Students.
What: Press conference and rally outside the Milwaukee Federal Building as part of a national day of action in response to Nov. 12 Supreme Court hearings on DACA.
Scheduled speakers: Christine Neumann-Ortiz (Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera); Alejandra Gonzales (YES! Organizer); Daniel Gutierrez (DACA recipient); Julio Gumeta (DACA recipient); Cassy Casas (Victim of deportation).
When: Today, Tuesday, November 12. Rally starts at 11am. Press Conference at 12pm.
Where: Outside of the Milwaukee Federal Building (517 E. Wisconsin Ave.)
Alejandra Gonzalez, Youth Organizer for Voces de la Frontera and organizer of today’s event said, “I was twelve years old when I found out I was undocumented. I started to live a life full of anxiety, stress, and depression because of the uncertainty of my future and the threat of deportation. DACA was instant relief from that. I am now 30 years old, and it breaks my heart to know that there is a new generation of youth experiencing the same struggle. I will not stand idly by. I will continue to fight for a permanent solution.”
Daniel Gutierrez Ayala, a DACA recipient, student at Cardinal Stritch University, and speaker at event said, “DACA to me is: The ability to live my dreams, achieve the unthinkable, contribute to my community, and to take action upon the injustices of the same system that has given me these opportunities.”
Edna Bosseau, a DACA recipient and teacher said, “If I lose DACA, I will end up losing not only my drivers license, but my teaching license and that will negatively affect my students. I teach kids who also are undocumented/DACA recipients, and their parents don’t always know how to navigate with their status. I have the privilege to be able to provide these students with learning how to be successful with their status.”
