Barbara Howard: It has been a real rollercoaster for those who were brought to the U.S. as children, with the Trump administration moving to get rid of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It protects them from deportation. Again, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must preserve DACA. This latest ruling orders that DACA also be open to new applicants, as well. And while the judge did stay his ruling for 90 days to give the Trump Administration time to respond, it is still the biggest blow yet to the White House on this. Allie Rojas is on the line. She is a so-called "Dreamer" protected by DACA. Thanks for joining us, Allie.
 
Allie Rojas: Thank you, Barbara, for having me.
 
Howard: So what's it like to be living with this uncertainty?
 
Rojas: Certainly some people are calling this a victory. But I don't think we can see this as a victory yet, as the judge gave the Trump administration 90 days. And unfortunately, I'm not so confident, and I'm pretty certain that the Trump Administration is going to take the 90 days to come back and take an aggressive stance on this. So I'm certainly not hopeful that anything is going to come of it. It is a small victory, and I'm glad the judges are fighting for us, but I certainly don't see this going anywhere.
 
Howard: How is it for you personally, how do you plan your life around this? You're a student at U-Mass, right? Boston?
 
Rojas: Yes, that's correct. So UMass-Boston, they have a pledge that they're going to keep the in-state tuition rate, regardless of DACA or not having DACA.
 
Howard: Without the in-state tuition, would you be able to afford to go to UMass-Boston?
 
Rojas: I would definitely not be able to afford UMass-Boston. It will double the cost for me.
 
Howard: OK. What about friends of yours who are also DACA recipients? Have any of them just given up and gone home to their home countries?
 
Rojas: Not personal, close friends, but there are multiple people who have decided, and are fed up with being oppressed, and they're going to use those skill sets in other places where they will be valued.
 
Howard: So they've been trained here in the United States and the education that they've gotten here is being taken home to their home countries, you're saying?
 
Rojas: Yes, that's what's happening.
 
Howard: Do you have any long range plan for this?
 
Rojas: If I get my bachelor's degree — if I'm not allowed to work, how am I going to utilize this bachelor’s degree in this country? So I won't have any other option but to go back to Mexico and utilize those skill sets over there, unfortunately.
 
Howard: Have you been there before? Do you have a connection with Mexico?
 
Rojas: I do not. I do not have — I haven't been there since I was four years old.
 
Howard: We spoke with you about three months ago when Congress was trying to hammer out a deal to preserve DACA as part of budget negotiations, but no deal was reached. What's life been like for you since then?
 
Rojas: I have made really rash decisions, but necessary decisions that I felt like I — that needed to be done. I didn't want to quit my full time job, but it's something that I had to do if I wanted to finish school fast.
 
So it has forced us and many — me and others to view life differently, and just forced to make decisions that other people would usually have time, and we have to make it abruptly.
 
Howard: So you're saying that you were working full time and going to school, but you want to hurry up and get your degree before anything happens. Is that what you're saying?
 
Rojas: Yes, I was only taking two classes at a time and now going back to school, I'm allowed to do full time with the help of scholarships.
 
Howard: And those scholarships, some of them would disappear if you lose your DACA status?
 
Rojas: Yes, there are some that would disappear if I did lose my DACA status, because some specifically say that you do have to have a lawful presence.  
 
Howard: Without those scholarships, can you afford to go to UMass-Boston?
 
Rojas: No. There's no way I would be able to afford to continue going to UMass-Boston.
 
Howard: Do you worry on a day-to-day basis about being deported?
 
Rojas: I do. It can happen at any time, I believe, and no one is safe at this time.
 
Howard: You've been active on this for a long time. Have you found other people who are, essentially, activist DACA recipients, are slipping away and kind of getting quiet for fear of being swept up in deportation proceedings?
 
Rojas: Some have decided to just kind of back away from the spotlight.
 
Howard: You're stepping up into the spotlight, being on the radio like this. Does it scare you?
 
Rojas: It is very, very scary. But we have to do this. Someone has to speak up.
 
Howard: OK, thanks so much, Allie.
 
Rojas: Thank you so much, Barbara, you have a wonderful day.
 
Howard: That's Allie Rojas. She's a so-called “Dreamer" protected from deportation by DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, at least for now.