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In 2013, Lizbeth returned to Mexico briefly and spent a short period of time with family
she had not seen in nearly two decades. Lizbeth knew the pain of so many young people
who had come to the United States as children but were forced to return to Mexico due to
family separation or the lack of educational opportunities. Lizbeth returned with eight
other DREAMers and asked, publicly, to be allowed to come home to their families. The
Dream 9, as they came to be known sought to highlight the damage caused by family
separation and called for the immediate reunification of families. After spending 17 days
at the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona, a private detention center operated by the
Corrections Corporations of America (CCA), Lizbeth and the rest of the Dream 9 were
allowed to return to their homes in the United States.
Lizbeth was able to return home just in time to begin her law school career at Santa Clara
University. This past May she graduated and received the Dean's Leadership Award for
her volunteer work with low-income workers, especially her efforts to recover over
$30,000 in unpaid wages for clients at the Katharine and George Alexander Law Center
and her numerous internships serving the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Lizbeth has received several job offers, which she has been forced to decline due to
USCISs failure to exercise discretion and grant Lizbeths DACA.
USCIS has stated that they intend to deny Lizbeths DACA because of her departure
from the U.S. during the Dream 9 action, because it took place after [DATE]. But
Lizbeths brief departure from the United States in 2013, and her return with the Dream
9, was part of her long fight for the rights of the immigrant community.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designed DACA as a discretionary
program to defer the deportation of young people like Lizbeth, and allow them to receive
a work permit and contribute to our society. DHS has been using this authority to
exercise discretion for years, both to grant and deny relief to immigrant, and it was
designed precisely with people like Lizbeth in mind. Hundreds of thousands of youth
have benefited from DACA thanks to Lizbeths efforts and those of dozens of activists
like her. Denying her DACA, a benefit that she has long-struggled for would not only be
profoundly unjust, it would go against the spirit of the program and is a grave misuse of
discretion.
Denying Lizbeths request for DACA would send a message that political expression in
support of immigrants rights will be punished. As professors, academic professionals,
attorneys, and community organizations, we ask that USCIS reconsiders its Notice of
Intent to Deny and grants Lizbeths DACA application.
Sincerely,