Green Country DACA Recipients Anticipate New Administration

President-elect Joe Biden said he will propose a plan for immigrants to have a clear pathway to citizenship on the first day of his presidency.

Meanwhile, several states are still suing to try to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Although it might seem like things have calmed down, Angelica Villalobos of Dream Act Oklahoma said DACA recipients should still pay attention to the next few weeks.

"There could be a time where it may be stopped for a while or put on hold, if there is an injunction," Villalobos said. "So there is not necessarily a deadline, but it's more of, ‘We got to keep track of what's going on with the lawsuits.’"

The U.S. Supreme Court denied President Donald Trump's attempt to end DACA back in June. Five months later, a federal New York City judged ordered them to resume the program.

The American Immigration Council said there are currently more than 6,000 DACA recipients in Oklahoma. Over 28,000 renewals were received by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services between Nov. 14 and Dec. 31.

Villalobos said she has some reassurance from having an administration on their side.

"There’s been a relief in hoping that this next administration will be more friendly towards the DACA program," Villalobos said.

DACA recipients can still submit a renewal form within 120 days before their expiration date. First-time applicants who meet the criteria can also apply through U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.