A recent comment from a federal official urging some DACA recipients to “self‑deport” has sparked fear and uncertainty among thousands of families in Texas — home to one of the largest DACA populations in the country.
Texas has an estimated 90,000 people enrolled in DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, including roughly 27,000 in the Houston area, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The program offers temporary protection from deportation and a work permit to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, but it does not provide a pathway to citizenship and must be renewed every two years.
From Belize to Houston — and a new life
For Houston resident Lisbeth Avila, DACA is more than just a program — it’s the foundation that allowed her to build her life.
Avila was born in Belize and came to the United States for the first time when she was just three years old. Her father fled the country due to religious persecution. The family tried returning to Belize briefly, but when Lisbeth was five, they came back to the U.S. and stayed for good.
She says coming here wasn’t her choice — it was a decision her parents made to protect their family.
“As a child, you follow your parents. You don’t have a choice about where you’re born or whether you stay. This is the only home I’ve ever known.”
She didn’t realize she wasn’t a U.S. citizen until she was older, when she tried to travel with her school and her father told her she couldn’t. Four of Lisbeth’s older siblings were also born in Belize, while her younger brothers and sisters were born in the U.S.
What DACA changed
Before applying for DACA, Lisbeth says her job options were limited to side work or staying home with her children. Once she received approval, it opened doors she never thought possible.
She went back to school, enrolled full‑time at a community college, and secured an office job. Eventually, she took out her first car loan, bought a new vehicle, and later started her own landscaping business.
“It gave me the opportunity to do more for myself, my family, and my community,” she said.
Fear after “self‑deportation” comment
That sense of stability has been shaken. Recently, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said DACA recipients are not automatically protected from deportation and encouraged people in the country illegally to leave and try to return through legal channels.
For Lisbeth, the comment was personal.
“I’ve been raised here… Just sending me somewhere where I know nothing about — I know all the rules here. My kids are from here — would they have to stay? Would they be separated from me? That would be a major change for me.”
Family separation this year
Lisbeth’s concerns aren’t hypothetical. Earlier this year, her mother — who had legal documents to remain in the U.S. until the end of December — was deported after being wrongfully accused of a crime.
“Even after she was proven innocent, she was still punished,” Lisbeth said. “That’s not the country I was raised to believe in.”
What the law says and what recipients can do
Immigration attorney Molly Full says active DACA recipients cannot be deported unless their status is revoked — usually for committing certain crimes — but she warns mistakes do happen.
“When someone is here on DACA, they cannot be deported while it’s still active… You’re not at risk of deportation unless it’s revoked. Telling someone to self‑deport is just to scare people to leave,” Full said.
Full advises recipients to:
- Renew early — about six months before expiration
- Avoid any legal trouble
- Seek legal advice to explore other immigration options, such as family‑based petitions, humanitarian relief, or visas for victims of crimes
Hoping for understanding
Lisbeth says she hopes sharing her story will show people the human side of the debate.
“This isn’t just going to disturb my life — it’s going to disturb my kids’ lives, and it affects so many people. I hope people can be more humane and understand that these are real lives being affected.”
