Local DREAMER speaks on Supreme Court DACA ruling

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Locally, DACA recipients and those close to them are rejoicing after hearing the Supreme Court’s ruling today.

A local DACA beneficiary spoke to WNKY today on her thoughts about the ruling.

“I’ve lived here all my life. I don’t know nothing else than Bowling Green, Kentucky,” said DACA beneficiary Ruth Villalobos.

The 29-year-old has lived in Bowling Green for most of her life.

The impact of Thursday’s court ruling giving her a feeling of security.

If she were to get sent back to Mexico, her biggest fear would be for her family.

“My children, because they were all born here and I don’t want to leave them,” Villalobos said.

Villalobos was only 9 months old when she made her way into the United States and has no memories of her birthplace.

DACA has been crucial for her to build her life.

“I have a job. I have a family to maintain and if I don’t have DACA it’s hard for me to find a job,” said Villalobos.

Villalobos also said if she has the chance to become a U.S. citizen, she would like to.

“As DACA, we have been renewing every two years, following the orders and we should have the opportunity to become citizens as anybody else because we work hard to maintain a good record and show that we are here to be somebody,” said Villalobos.

Until they can become citizens, some DACA beneficiaries fear for their futures according to the director of the International Center of Kentucky Albert Mbanfu.

“Living in fear is something that no human being [should have to] to go through because it disturbs you from planning. It disturbs you from actually building your life the way you want it to be,” said Mbanfu.

Villalobos hopes that one day she could take her children to visit her birthplace in Mexico.