There is anxious anticipation in the immigrant community that President Donald Trump may soon repeal DACA – the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy – and anger over the possible loss of DACA is being felt in the streets.
"Get out of the street!," shouted a San Antonio Police Bike Patrol Officer to a group of about 100 protesters who carried signs and banners in support of the nation's immigrants.
There were some tense minutes as immigrant rights activists and San Antonio Police bike patrol officers faced off Friday afternoon.
After reading signs from the White House that the Trump administration was preparing to end the DACA program that protects so-called "Dreamers" from deportation, the protestors mobilized and blocked traffic in downtown San Antonio and we’re ignoring orders from the police to stay on the sidewalk.
In Bexar County, there are 15,000 DACA recipients and 800,000 nationally, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Jessica Azua came to the U.S. when she was 14. She now has a business degree but could be deported if DACA ends.
“I really call San Antonio and the United States my home. It has given me a lot. Just the idea that they can take away this program it makes me angry,” she said.
Eventually the protestors and the police reached an agreement and the march continued on the sidewalks and out of traffic, but this minor confrontation could be a taste of what’s to come if DACA is cancelled.
