The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

This runner qualified for the Olympics but his DACA status almost took him away from his dream

2021-07-28T11:14:07.832Z


Luis Grijalva is a DACA recipient who will travel to Japan on Friday to represent Guatemala in the 5,000-meter race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.


Dreamer asks Biden to help DACA recipients 5:25

(CNN) -

When Luis Grijalva crossed the finish line at the NCAA track and field championships last month, he knew he could achieve his Olympic dream.

But first, immigration officials would have to accept that the 22-year-old broker would travel outside of the United States and return to the country he calls home.

Grijalva is a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient who will travel to Japan on Friday to represent Guatemala in the 5,000-meter race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He and his attorney spent several weeks petitioning the US Citizenship and Immigration Services a special permit known as advance parole that allows DACA recipients to re-enter the US after traveling abroad.

They weren't sure whether immigration officials would be able to grant Grijalva permission in time, but he received clearance to travel on Monday after weeks of uncertainty.

"It is a privilege and an honor to represent Guatemala because that is where I was born, (where are) generations of family and that is where my roots began," he told CNN.

Grijalva was just 1 year old when her family moved to New York City from Guatemala.

The family of five later moved to Fairfield, California, where Grijalva used to run for fun with other kids at the Turkey Trot races on Thanksgiving.

advertising

  • What is DACA and how does the program that protects “dreamers” from deportation work?

In those Christmas races and physical education classes, Grijalva gradually began to notice that he was faster than other children his age.

But it wasn't until he became a teenager while at Armijo High School in Fairfield that he realized how much he loved running and, with the help of his coaches, focused on becoming a cross country runner, he said.

Since graduating from high school, a full scholarship to Northern Arizona University has helped Grijalva continue to run competitively while pursuing a career in communications.

Over the past three years, he has improved his performance and his personal records.

Last month, he finished second in the men's 5,000-meter race at the NCAA Division I men's and women's outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon.

He had a time of 13 minutes and 13.14 seconds, an effort that became his ticket to the Olympics.

While he was unable to represent the United States at the Olympics for various reasons, including his immigration status, he was selected by Guatemala for the country's delegation.

He was honored by the opportunity, but did not know if there would be enough time to apply for and receive an immigration permit to travel.

At that time, Grijalva says, he had about 27 days to obtain the travel permit.

The process to obtain a permit takes at least 90 days, said Jessica Smith Bobadilla, an attorney for Grijalva.

Smith Bobadilla said they were able to prepare a very detailed application and that they had contacted Arizona lawmakers about the Grijalva situation.

On Monday, they made one last effort to expedite their application and went to the USCIS offices in Phoenix, they said.

Grijalva says it was "unbelievable" when immigration officials confirmed that he had been granted permission to travel after waiting several hours at the office.

"I've been here for 21 years, somehow I feel as American as anyone else who was born here, but just having that birthright, being born here, takes away a lot of opportunities from me, but also from everyone else in DACA. "Grijalva said.

  • OPINION |

    The future of the "dreamers" in the US is in danger after the judge's decision on DACA

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the DACA program was illegal, preventing the government from approving applications for new recipients.

Those currently in the DACA program, like Grijalva, were allowed to stay in it.

The decision, by US District Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas, injected uncertainty into the lives of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants, as well as their families.

Smith Bobadilla, who has represented undocumented youth, said they were lucky that Grijalva's application was approved and encouraged officials to consider how other DACA recipients may be missing "equally important opportunities" if they cannot "maneuver" the process. application and approval as fast as they do.

As she prepares to travel to Tokyo, Grijalva undergoes COVID-19 tests numerous times before her flight.

You are taking time to reflect on the eight-year journey that will take you to the Olympics and the responsibility you have in representing DACA recipients.

Grijalva owes much of his success to his high school and college coaches, who supported him and guided him "in the right direction."

He will race through Guatemala on August 3 for the 5,000-meter preliminary race.

After the Olympics, he will continue his professional career after having signed a contract with the footwear company Hoka One One.

"Honestly, it's a dream to pursue a passion that doesn't feel like work," Grijalva said.

"It's pretty cool".

DACA

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-07-28

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.