What's at stake?
A recent U.S. court ruling has sparked fear among Central Valley DACA recipients, but they continue to find support and resources to build their lives.
Jennifer Balino was always passionate about science and helping people, but when her mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, she realized she wanted to become a nurse.
Through her experience caring for her mom, Balino witnessed firsthand the importance of a collaborative team of doctors and nurses. Since her mother didn’t speak English, Balino served as her interpreter, studying hard to ensure her needs were met until she passed away. She plans to one day be part of a medical team like the ones that helped her mom.
Balino, 25, is currently on the nursing track at Fresno City College and is expected to earn her associate’s degree in the spring of 2026. Even though she’s lived in the U.S. since she was 5, she is undocumented, with temporary DACA status—allowing her to work and remain here for now.
“For U.S. immigrants, there are a lot of stereotypical things said, especially here in Fresno or the surrounding areas, where people think, ‘Well, immigrants just get everything handed to them,’ said Balino. “Which is not true. For us, it’s like 10 times harder to prove that we deserve to be here.”
DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy adopted in 2012 that protects undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation, while also providing work authorization and social security numbers.
About 4,500 Fresno residents have DACA status, according to a March 2023 report from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Three days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit against DACA, has blocked new applications and allowed only renewals.
Trump has previously said that he supports working with the Democrats on a plan to help Dreamers, another name for undocumented immigrants who arrived as kids.
But under his first term, his administration undertook several attempts to end the DACA program. And his current executive order to end birthright citizenship could apply to the children of Dreamers born in the U.S.
How Fresno organizations are preparing for DACA’s uncertainty
Belkis Carino, the education program manager at the Education and Leadership Foundation, is closely monitoring the developments surrounding DACA, particularly its impact on the foundation’s student fellows.
The foundation’s Empowerment Fellowship provides students with the opportunity to gain work experience in their chosen field.
Launched in 2020, the fellowship provides students with either a $2,500 or $5,000 stipend depending on the number of hours completed in a school quarter. According to Carino, the program currently has 58 fellows, nearly all of whom are undocumented.
Anxiety has grown among the fellows in recent months, Carino said.
“Those fears in the community have arisen, especially for those trying to navigate the professional setting through our fellowship,” said Carino. “They’re saying, ‘Now I’m scared to go to my site because I want to complete my hours for the fellowship, but how can I ensure my safety?’ That’s why I’m taking the time to learn how to support them, help them, and give them peace of mind.”
Since joining the foundation as a fellow in October, Balino, the nursing student, has participated in two cohorts, gaining professional development experience in a supportive environment that prioritizes her mental well-being.
Through the fellowship, she has attended workshops on topics like entrepreneurship to build skills for the future, written reflections on her learning while maintaining a focus on self-care, and taken part in staff meetings. She also works closely with her mentor, Carino, to ensure she meets her personal and professional goals.
“I used to work other jobs, like under-the-table jobs or in the fields, where you get exploited a lot,” said Balino. “It’s hard to work in that physically demanding environment, not only physically but mentally, and still manage to do your schooling. With the fellowship, it has brought me into a better balance, where I can focus on myself and my self-care, without worrying that I’m going to go to work and have someone yell at me or deal with other negative experiences.”
With the foundation’s support, Balino discovered she wanted to become a pediatric nurse.
As a tutor for Fresno Unified’s seven-day winter camp, she helped keep students engaged and prevent learning loss over the break.
The camp’s theme, “Picture Perfect,” allowed Balino to work with a small group of pre-K to third-grade students, teaching them how to use Polaroid cameras, take photos, and create their own albums. She also guided them in making personalized “books of adventures” by designing covers and explaining basic storytelling elements.
‘I know my rights’
Alongside these opportunities comes the need to navigate safety concerns under the Trump administration. This includes providing fellows with ‘Know Your Rights’ presentations, creating safety plans, and other essential resources to ensure they can continue to give back to the community.
“I’m not as scared anymore because I’m like, ‘OK, I can do this. I know my rights,’” said Balino. “It is scary as an immigrant, especially because you’ve put so much into this country. You’re like, ‘OK, well, what happens to my career? What happens to everything I’ve worked for?’”
Fear has only intensified following the Trump administration’s decision to revoke a Biden-era policy just hours after taking office. The policy had prohibited U.S. immigration agents from making arrests at or near schools, places of worship, and other designated “sensitive locations.”
Fresno Unified recently reaffirmed their sanctuary resolution and shared other resources that explain student and family rights. FUSD is also hosting a series of workshops on immigrant rights for families and has implemented a text alert system to notify people if immigration officials enter school property.
According to recent guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, state law does not require school officials to permit immigration agents to enter schools unless they have a judicial warrant.
Carino said the foundation has been in talks with Fresno and Central Unified officials about protecting students and expanding access to resources. This includes collaborating with local organizations to strengthen support efforts.
One such partnership is with Immigrants Rising, a nonprofit that provides resources for undocumented individuals. The organization offers free mental health support through presentations for Carino’s fellows. Additionally, the foundation works with the Consulate of México in Fresno to host workshops that assist DACA recipients with the renewal process.
Nuria Zuniga Alaniz, head consul of the Consulate of México in Fresno, encourages DACA recipients to proceed with their renewals.
“With DACA, it has been a roller coaster,” Alaniz said. “Since its creation, there have always been discussions about whether the program will continue or end. We’ve been providing this service for a long time, but right now, it’s especially important for all DACA recipients to know that they can access support here at the consulate.”
Carino said it’s important to build a “powerful chain of knowledge” that can reach the fellow’s family, friends, neighbors and community members.
“It’s very important to keep this powerful chain going to educate our community,” said Carino. “We need to help them move past the fear, because I think that’s the issue. When we have fear, that’s what I think those in power want. They want to spread fear within the community because they believe we’re weak. But we’re not.”
Resources for DACA recipients in Fresno
- The Education and Leadership’s Empowerment Fellowship applications will open on March 1, and close on March 15 for its next three month cohort. FAQ found here.
- Fresno State’s Dream Success Center provides resources for AB540 students, undocumented individuals, DACA recipients, and those with mixed immigration statuses.
- Fresno Building Healthy Communities is offering scholarships to pay for one’s DACA renewal application fee.
- UFW Foundation encourages people to call 1-877-881-8281 for guidance on the process of DACA renewals and assist those who qualify to apply for fee waivers.
- Centro La Familia Advocacy Services offers DACA services and support with filling fees.
- Proteus, Inc. refers people to DACA information sessions.
- Services Immigrant Rights & Education Network (SIREN) offers DACA services and scholarships.
