The president's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program known as DACA led to protests across the country. That includes one in Racine near House Speaker Paul Ryan's office.
Monument Square in downtown Racine was filled earlier Tuesday night with people against ending DACA. About a dozen in the crowd were teens and young adults who depend on the program.
As people prayed and chanted and marched, they spoke out against ending DACA. In the front of those marchers were the teens and young adults who use it everyday.
"I got two jobs," said one woman who did not want to give her name, but is a 18-year-old who uses DACA.
"I work at a hospital and I am also a student," said Jeider, who did not want to give his last name but is a 20-year-old on DACA.
"I have been able to go to school. I am working at a hospital," said Geraldine Camacho, a 20-year-old who uses DACA.
Their stories seem to echo each other.
"I came here when I was three."
"I came here when I was 9-years-old," said Maria Mares.
"When I was 2-years-old," said Jeider.
People marched past House Speaker Paul Ryan's office. In a statement he said, "However well-intentioned, President Obama's DACA program was a clear abuse of executive authority, an attempt to create law out of thin air. Just as the courts have already struck down similar Obama policy, this was never a viable long-term solution to this challenge."
Ryan said he wants Congress to come up with a permanent solution. Something these young people are hoping happens because none of them know how they would get by if they were forced to return to Mexico.
"I have been here for more than half of my life. And this is my home," said Camacho.
The group, which was lead by Voces de la Frontera from Milwaukee, said their next step is to talk to their members of Congress. Senators and Representatives have six months to act before DACA ends.
