The so-called documented dreamers, who are estimated to be about 250,000, grew up legally in the US but risk deportation when they turn 21 and lose the protective cover of their parents as ‘dependents’
White House officials have for the first time, met a representative group of documented ‘dreamers’, mostly Indian-Americans, giving them a patient hearing to their concerns regarding aging out and indicating that there may be positive moves so that they don’t have to leave the country where they have spent almost their entire lives, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
The so-called documented dreamers, who are estimated to be about 250,000, grew up legally in the US but risk deportation when they turn 21 and lose the protective cover of their parents as ‘dependents’.
“We look forward to seeing positive policy change, both administrative and legislative, to end aging out,” said Improve the Dream, a youth-led grassroots organisation.
Early this week, a large representative group of Improve the Dream met Betsy Lawrence, Deputy Assistant to the President for Immigration, and Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
Although these children have been coming to Washington DC for the past few years, this is for the first time that senior White House officials have met them.
“I really appreciated meeting the White House officials who took time out of their day to come and listen to our stories and were willing to help us. I enjoyed meeting them and would like to thank them for all they have done to help us. As the first group in our situation to meet White House officials at the White house, it was a surreal experience and one that I will not forget,” said Sri Harini Kundu.
Harini came to America when he was seven years old and since then has lived in three US states of Texas, New Jersey and currently in North Carolina.
He turns 23 in September this year. “I am currently in a F1 student visa status and will have to self-deport once I finish my education. I am about to graduate in Fall 2022 with a bachelors in psychology from the University of North Carolina.
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