WASHINGTON — Alfredo Garcia, 22, has his documents ready to apply for a proposed Obama administration program that would allow him to remain in the U.S. and work temporarily. After living in the United States as an undocumented immigrant for seven years, he’s set to graduate from Texas A&M this year with a double-major in economics and philosophy and wants to go on to get a Ph.D.
He faced a setback to that plan on Tuesday, just one day before the government was supposed to begin accepting applications to the program. Garcia woke up and logged in to Facebook, only to learn that a judge in his state had issued a preliminary injunction late Monday, temporarily halting the progress of this policy that would help him.
Garcia said he’s not worried about himself, because he is confident the courts will eventually allow the programs to move forward. But he’s worried about others who are reading the news and might think the policies are doomed for good.
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Andiola — whose sister is Erika Andiola, a co-director of advocacy organization Dream Action Coalition — said she trusts that they win out eventually.
“I have hope that even if there’s a delay on it, that it’s going to happen,” Andiola said. “I don’t know exactly when, but I’m hoping soon.”
