This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/16/daca-dreamer-detained-immigration-texas-josue-romero

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Second known Daca recipient detained by immigration officials in Texas Second known Daca recipient detained by immigration officials in Texas
(about 1 hour later)
A Daca recipient has been taken into custody by immigration officials, attorneys said on Thursday, in what is the second known case of officials targeting people with the protected status.A Daca recipient has been taken into custody by immigration officials, attorneys said on Thursday, in what is the second known case of officials targeting people with the protected status.
Josue Romero, a 19-year-old arts student in San Antonio, was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), attorneys said, despite being granted temporary relief from deportation under the Obama administration’s deferred action policy.Josue Romero, a 19-year-old arts student in San Antonio, was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), attorneys said, despite being granted temporary relief from deportation under the Obama administration’s deferred action policy.
His case follows the detention of Daniel Ramirez Medina, a Mexico-born 23-year-old parent of a US citizen. He was reportedly arrested in Seattle last week by Ice agents who were looking for his father.His case follows the detention of Daniel Ramirez Medina, a Mexico-born 23-year-old parent of a US citizen. He was reportedly arrested in Seattle last week by Ice agents who were looking for his father.
About 750,000 young people, dubbed “Dreamers”, have been granted Daca. The programme was created by Obama via an executive action in 2012 to protect individuals who came to the US as children from deportation. But many are worried that the new federal administration will cancel the scheme and make recipients vulnerable to removal from the country.About 750,000 young people, dubbed “Dreamers”, have been granted Daca. The programme was created by Obama via an executive action in 2012 to protect individuals who came to the US as children from deportation. But many are worried that the new federal administration will cancel the scheme and make recipients vulnerable to removal from the country.
At a press conference on Thursday, Donald Trump said: “We’re gonna show great heart, Daca is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have because you have these incredible kids.”At a press conference on Thursday, Donald Trump said: “We’re gonna show great heart, Daca is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have because you have these incredible kids.”
The president’s executive order of 25 January appears to give federal officials the right to prioritise for deportation undocumented immigrants who have “committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense”, regardless of whether they have been convicted or even charged. It wasn’t clear that the directive applied to Daca recipients.The president’s executive order of 25 January appears to give federal officials the right to prioritise for deportation undocumented immigrants who have “committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense”, regardless of whether they have been convicted or even charged. It wasn’t clear that the directive applied to Daca recipients.
“We’re doing our best to figure out what we can do,” said Amy Fischer, policy director of Raices, a legal aid group that is trying to get Romero released. “This is not something that we had seen before,” she said. “As a Daca student he should not be detained, period, he has legal status here.” Romero was released on Thursday night, one of his attorneys said, though no further details were immediately available. “This is not something that we had seen before,” said Amy Fischer, policy director of Raices, a legal aid group that worked to get Romero released. “As a Daca student he should not be detained, period, he has legal status here.”
Fischer said it appears that Romero was first stopped by local police who found him in a park after hours, then arrested him on Wednesday for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana – a misdemeanour offence in Texas. He was then handed over to federal immigration officials.Fischer said it appears that Romero was first stopped by local police who found him in a park after hours, then arrested him on Wednesday for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana – a misdemeanour offence in Texas. He was then handed over to federal immigration officials.
According to the Facebook page of SAY Sí, an arts programme in San Antonio that he joined in 2009, Romero moved to Texas from Honduras at age four. “Josue was drawn to SAY Sí because of his creative interests (doodling and building with Legos) and began to find his place at SAY Sí in our Visual Arts high school program. As a high school student he had the opportunity to mentor middle school students every week,” the post says.According to the Facebook page of SAY Sí, an arts programme in San Antonio that he joined in 2009, Romero moved to Texas from Honduras at age four. “Josue was drawn to SAY Sí because of his creative interests (doodling and building with Legos) and began to find his place at SAY Sí in our Visual Arts high school program. As a high school student he had the opportunity to mentor middle school students every week,” the post says.
“One of the biggest changes we saw in Josue was his transformation into a leader and his developed interest in seeking higher education. With assistance from SAY Sí staff, Josue received the help he needed to submit college applications and apply for scholarships to attend college. He was awarded a scholarship that covered 75% of tuition to attend the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, and is currently in his second year there.”“One of the biggest changes we saw in Josue was his transformation into a leader and his developed interest in seeking higher education. With assistance from SAY Sí staff, Josue received the help he needed to submit college applications and apply for scholarships to attend college. He was awarded a scholarship that covered 75% of tuition to attend the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, and is currently in his second year there.”
An Ice spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for details about Romero’s detention. An Ice spokesperson confirmed that an immigration detainer was placed on him with the county jail and he was then transferred to Ice custody.
Ramirez was brought to the US at about seven years old and was allowed to stay and given a work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme. Ice has accused him of being a gang member, which he denies, and he is suing the government for his release, NPR reported.Ramirez was brought to the US at about seven years old and was allowed to stay and given a work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme. Ice has accused him of being a gang member, which he denies, and he is suing the government for his release, NPR reported.