Several recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme have been detained in what appears to be a significant shift in US immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Dawn Raids and Detentions
Yaakub Vijandre was preparing for his work as a mechanic when six federal vehicles surrounded his Dallas-area home. Agents emerged, one aiming a weapon at him, before taking him into custody during the early October incident.
Vijandre, like other DACA recipients, had previously enjoyed protection from deportation under the Obama-era programme established in 2012. The scheme shields individuals brought to the United States as children, provided they maintain clean records.
The Trump administration justified Vijandre's arrest by citing his social media activity. The freelance videographer and pro-Palestinian activist communicated details of his detention to attorneys, who subsequently shared the information with journalists.
Systematic Policy Changes
These arrests represent a marked departure from previous procedures. Under earlier protocols, DACA recipients facing status revocation would receive warnings and opportunities to contest decisions before facing detention.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserted in a statement that "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country" and recipients can lose protection for various reasons, including criminal activity.
Regarding Vijandre's case, McLaughlin alleged he made posts "glorifying terrorism," including one celebrating former al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. His attorney, Chris Godshall-Bennett, countered that this constitutes protected speech and noted the government hasn't specified the offending posts in court documents.
Broader Immigration Crackdown
The Home is Here campaign, created by pro-DACA advocacy groups, reports approximately 20 DACA recipients have been arrested or detained since President Trump took office in January.
Other cases include Catalina Santiago, a 28-year-old activist from El Paso, Texas, arrested in August despite presenting a valid DACA work permit. Similarly, Paulo Cesar Gamez Lira was apprehended while returning home with his children from a medical appointment, suffering a dislocated shoulder during the arrest according to his legal representatives.
Both individuals were detained for over a month before their attorneys secured release. Their lawyer, Marisa Ong, emphasised that "the government cannot take away that liberty without providing some valid reason."
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Santiago had previous charges for trespassing and narcotics possession, while Gamez Lira faced marijuana possession allegations. However, Ong stated the government presented no evidence of misconduct during release proceedings.
Meanwhile, Vijandre remains confined in a Georgia detention facility. His legal team received notice of his DACA termination two weeks before his arrest but say he was denied opportunity to contest the decision.
Godshall-Bennett summarised the situation: "The administration has drawn a very clear line between citizen and noncitizens, and their goal is to remove as many noncitizens from the country as possible."
