Denver Catholic

11 DENVER CATHOLIC | SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 13, 2017 My future family depends on DACA" JUAN OLIVO, 24, is the leader of the young adult group at Queen of Peace Parish in Aurora. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, he was 14 years old when he arrived with his mother to the United States in 2006. For Juan, DACA made him feel "very happy, because I was going to have opportunities as any other of the American citi- zen." Currently Juan works in construction and repairs federal roads. It's hard work, but he's grateful for it. And he knows he wouldn't have the opportunity to work for such a good company if he didn't have a work permit. Like many other benefi ciaries of DACA, he sees his entire future as hanging in the balance as he watches and waits to see what will happen with the deferred action program. He recently asked his girlfriend, Génesis, to marry him, and she said yes. They will marry next year. She is also a DACA benefi ciary, which means neither can help the other gain citizenship. "I would like to form a family here in this country and keep my Cristian values," he told°Denver Catholic en Español. "In Mexico, there is a lot of violence, murders, injustice and corruption. "The plans I have with my girlfriend and my future family depend on DACA, but I have faith that everything is going to be well." My parents left everything … to give me what they never received" MARÍA DEL ROSARIO VALERIO, 21, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, but only lived there nine months before her parents moved with her to the United States in 1996. Like many young people in her situation, high school wasn't a time of dreaming of all the possibilities of the future. No, she remembers high school as a time of uncertainty: "I thought I wasn't going to be able to progress, that I was going to remain stagnant." With DACA, suddenly a path to success opened up before her, and she took full advantage. She is now studying to earn her teacher certifi cation so she can be a modern language teacher, and she works as a receptionist at Centro San Juan Diego. And now she can fl y, literally. "Thanks to DACA … I fl ew for the fi rst time to the Prevención y Rescate (Prevention and Rescue) Catholic movement meeting in Los Angeles," she told°Denver Catholic en Español. She also took advantage of her new legal status to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. "My parents left everything they had in Mexico to give me what they never received," she said. "With the end of DACA I feel that dream of my parents, and my dream, is over." 87 percent of DREAMERS are employed Six percent have started a new business. With their taxes, they contribute $433.4 billion to the cumulative country gross domestic product over 10 years. Archdiocese of Denver As Pope Francis said earlier this year, "the defense of human beings knows no barriers; we are all united in wanting to ensure a dignifi ed life for every man, woman, child forced to abandon their land." And as the bishops of the United States said today, "regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you." I want to echo this sentiment, and let you know that the Archdiocese of Denver is committed to working toward immigration reform, which would allow you, the DREAMERS of Colorado, to continue to work, go to school and participate in parish and civic life. I continue to encourage all people of Colorado to°act now and ask Congress to pass the DREAM Act. This is no time for partisan poli- tics! It is time for every member of Congress to put the dignity of human persons fi rst before their bickering over ideology. Pray to Our Lady, asking her intercession, so that as a country we may act in the right way toward our immigrant brothers and sisters. Be assured of my prayers for you! God bless you all, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila Archbishop of Colorado " " put the dignity of human persons fi rst before their Pray to Our Lady, asking as a country we may act in the right way toward our immigrant brothers and sisters. prayers for you! God bless you all, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila Archbishop of Colorado PHOTO BY ANYA SEMENOFF PHOTO BY ANDREW WRIGHT

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