Immigrants Rights Activists Rally Outside Pasadena Courthouse as Case With National Implications is Heard

Immigrant rights demonstrators from Arizona and Los Angeles rallied outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena on Thursday morning, protesting Arizona’s ban on driver’s licenses for immigrants who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

A hearing being held inside the federal courthouse challenged the policy implemented by former Arizona Governor Janice Brewer.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program authorizes certain immigrants, who came without permission to the United States as children, to remain in the United States. It was launched by the Obama administration in June, 2012.

Governor Brewer issued an executive order after the policy was announced telling Aizona state agencies that DACA recipients, often referred to as “dreamers,” are not eligible for any state or public benefit, including a driver’s license.

After Thursday’s hearing the court will consider whether it should uphold a District Court’s ruling that the policy was discriminatory and needed to be “stricken.”

“Based on the judges’ questions, they had serious concerns on why the State of Arizona chose to single out this group of young immigrants versus others. We’re definitely hopeful, we think not only are our legal arguments right but they’re morally right,” Karen Tumlin of the National immigration Law Center said, one of the plaintiffs’ attorney’s said.

Tumlin said she left feeling hopeful that the court will place a permanent ban on the policy, which would allow her clients to drive legally in the state.

As this court action takes places, the Obama administration is currently trying to a similar program for the parents of DACA recipients. The Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents policy, known as DAPA, would grant work eligibility as well. This Pasadena court case could have positive or negative ramifications on that policy’s standing as well, according to the protesters.

“Arizona, it’s not your place. You’re willing to take away DACA from everyone just for political reasons,” Rose Hernandez of AFL-CIO, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, said outside the Court of Appeals today.

Diana Wong, a DACA recipient and former Pasadena City College student, participated in the rally held outside the courthouse, saying that driving is an essential right in order to be able to work.

“I want to speak today because DACA has been a healing process. I can finally get the things that I couldn’t before. I can make my mom’s sacrifice worth something,” Wong said.

Wong’s mother suffered for more than 20 years, being abused at her work, yet unable to report it for fear of being deported. Her family paid for her brother to go to school, but when it was her turn the money had dried up, mostly because he was an “international” student rather than getting in-state tuition and received no financial aid.

“I felt just kind of stuck. I watched all my friends get their driver’s licenses, go to college eventually they all graduated I just felt stuck for in community college for six years,” Wong said.

When DACA was passed almost three years ago, Wong knew she could finally get the education she wanted. Next year she will graduate from UC Santa Cruz.

Wong wants DACA students like her in Arizona to have the same opportunities by having the critical ability to drive to school and work.

Advocates at the rally included CHIRLA, ACLU, California Dream Network, Promise Arizona, the United Teachers of Los Angeles and DACA students.

“Our country is always stronger when individuals in our society have full access to all the benefits they’re entitled to. We believe the 9th Circuit is going to stand on the side of what’s right,” Rusty Hicks, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor said.

The Richard H. Chambers Courthouse is located at 125 S Grand Avenue in Pasadena.