Carlos Eduardo Cornejo knew that some of his most cherished dreams would come true this weekend. On Saturday he graduated from the university in the state of Texas with a degree in psychology and today Sunday he would go to his native Jalisco, Mexico, for the first time after 22 years.
The youth is part of a group of 80 dreamers, beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), that a few days ago he received a permit – known as Advance Parole (AP) – to travel outside the United States and re-enter legally.
Cornejo, who arrived in the United States, with His parents when he was just one year old, said that through social networks he found out about the travel program, organized by the California-Mexico Study Center (CMCS), and did not hesitate to request it.
This program offers the opportunity for DACA youth, known as ‘dreamers’, to travel to their hometowns. Later they meet in the state of Morelos, Mexico, to start an ethnic study and learn more about their roots.
“I have many mixed emotions, I don’t know what I’m going to do exactly but I want to live and enjoy the moment without expectations ”, he indicated.
The travel process
The Advance Parole trip has become an opportunity towards residency for undocumented youth who are married to a lawful permanent resident or a US citizen. The AP grants them legal entry into the country, which eliminates the punishment of having entered the United States illegally.
However, this does not happen with all young people since there are many who Despite having traveled with AP, they continue with a status in limbo since their DACA status continues to be temporary, renewable every two years and approved at the discretion of immigration agents.
Lidieth Arévalo , director of communications and multimedia with CMCS, said that since September they submitted the application to request AP’s permission.
Usually the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) takes almost five months to approve them But the group had already been waiting for seven months with no answers.
So they filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles court asking that federal immigration officials be ordered to approve their application on academic grounds and relatives.
“This was going to be the Winter group 2020, for I saw from December to January, but as we kept waiting we had to delay it until now, ”said Arévalo, a DACA beneficiary.
The plan consists of each student in the group traveling directly and on their own to their hometown or town but all leaving the same weekend.
After three weeks of being in their places of origin they will return to Cuernavaca, Morelos, to present an investigation that shows what that they learned in their stay from their native homes. Students must submit an essay of 10 pages talking about what has been learned.
Regarding the risk of Covid infection – 19, Arévalo said that very cautious measures are being taken for when students meet in Cuernavaca.
“ We are going to be in a hacienda hotel and we hire a doctor who will be with us the 24 hours of the day in case of any risk that may exist ”Said Arevalo. “And we have emphasized that they must have their vaccines against Covid.”
In addition, the students will carry rapid tests to detect coronavirus in their luggage, which will be carried out before meeting with the group in Cuernavaca.
“We have asked them to show a test that is negative and if someone is positive they will be quarantined,” said Arevalo. “And before traveling to the United States as a group, they will receive another Covid test.”
Towards El Salvador with a political agenda
Arévalo, who has traveled in the past as a student with CMCS said she is excited to return to her native El Salvador after five years.
His trip will be a bit bittersweet since although he is happy to see his father and brother who live there, he will also visit the grave of his paternal grandmother who passed away on 24 May 2020. “My grandmother was the closest because she is the one who took care of me when I was there and I could not go to her funeral,” she said.
Another objective that the dreamer has in mind is to be able to meet with the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, not only to let you know her history as a dreamer but also her experience as an undocumented filmmaker. Arévalo is a graduate of Chapman University with a master of fine arts (MFA) and documentary production. From 2015 to date, he has worked on nine documentaries.
“I recognize that in El Salvador there are no resources or support in audiovisual arts, specifically film or television. If someone wants to get ahead in these areas, they literally have to leave the country, “said Arévalo.
He hopes that this government, which promises the advance of El Salvador, can support his support proposal now that she hopes that if she decides to return to her native country she can pursue this career.
More than 200 dreamers hope to travel
The first group of young dreamers will travel in two groups of 40 people, one this weekend and next in early July. The first group is scheduled to return for the 13 June.
Additionally, CMCS awaits approval from 130 permits more, which is the group scheduled to travel in August.
Arévalo said that the AP permits of the first two groups have an expiration date much later of their return dates but they are saving extra days in case a dreamer catches Covid – 19 and have to stay in Mexico for more days.
He adds that although they have students from all over the country waiting to participate in this experience. that most of the students are Mexican, they also have participants from Central America, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and one from South Korea.