It was that similarity, and the teachings of his Catholic faith, that inspired Sandoval to promote an all-day workshop for young immigrants eligible for the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Sandoval made an announcement about the workshop at his parish, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino, and then volunteered at the event.
“As Catholics we like to help people,” he said. “We go out of our way.”
The Deferred Action policy, announced June 15 by President Barack Obama, applies to “certain young people who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own as young children and meet several key criteria.” Those eligible must:
• Have lived continuously in the United States for five years prior to June 15
• Be in school or are a high school graduate (or holds a GED) or are a military veteran (honorably discharged)
• Have come to the United States before age 16 and are not older than 30
• Be present in the United States on June 15, and able to pass a criminal background check. A young person who has a criminal record may or may not qualify, depending on the crime or crimes.
Deferred action is a form of prosecutorial discretion that allows a person to remain in the U.S. for two years without deportation and can be renewed. It does not confer legal status or citizenship and does not apply to family members. Those who are granted deferred action must apply with US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The diocese had offered a number of informational meetings on the Deferred Action program since it was first announced. The Sept. 16 workshop took a more hands-on approach, actually helping young people through the application process. Members of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California, which includes the diocese, Catholic Charities San Bernardino-Riverside, San Bernardino Community Service Center, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and several others lent their knowledge and expertise to the workshop.
Over the course of the day, 400 different applicants were guided through the process, an effort that pleased coalition members.
“The mission was met,” said Fernando Romero, coordinator of the coalition, while also noting that as of the end of September less than 100,000 of the estimated 1.8 million young people eligible for Deferred Action have applied for it.
“It seems that a lot of young people are waiting until after the election to see what happens,” Romero said, referring to the differing positions of the presidential candidates on immigration reform.