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Local DACA recipients renew legal status in midst of Supreme Court challenge

Posted at 4:08 PM, Oct 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-20 19:36:08-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Local DACA recipients got their renewal process started Saturday in the midst of a Supreme Court case that could affect their legal status.

“I love this country. It’s given me the opportunity to study and really like help my family.”

Diego Rodriguez is thankful to be in America. He’s a student at UNLV studying mechanical engineering and is also a DACA recipient.

“That’s the American dream and like having help and becoming a better person,” he said.

He’s in the process of renewing his status at a clinic, In the midst of federal court challenges.

“It makes me feel kind of like sad on how there is uncertainty, because I feel most people in this program, they just want to better themselves and have a better life,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is one of about 12,300 DACA recipients in Nevada with more than 660,000 nationwide. The Supreme Court will hear a case on the legality of DACA next month and immigrant advocates say there’s no time to waste for renewals.

“What’s important is that if you’re able to, is to renew your DACA today,” Dulce Ealencia, deputy director with Dream Big Nevada, said.

Information and scholarships were the focus for the clinic to help with that renewal process.
Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman says DACA recipients have helped shape the community.

“I’m just on fully support of and just believe so much in the enrichment of our culture and the people that have chosen Las Vegas home. We all count. We all make it a better place,” she said.

A place Rodriguez says he calls home.