Dreaming beyond the borders: DACA recipients in Kern County share their stories

January 27, 2025 /

Born in Pueblo, Mexico, Christal Barrientos was always told by her family to be proud of who she was and where she was from—not defined solely as an immigrant in the United States, but as a little girl with a dream of becoming a doctor. 

When Barrientos first came to America at nine months old, she resided in the South Central area of Los Angeles. Throughout elementary school, a majority of her classmates were Mexican Americans, Latinos/as, and Hispanics, or those who originated from the same areas as her family.

However, when she moved to Bakersfield at the age of 10, she soon realized that those around her didn’t share the same story. When she arrived at her school in the South side, the majority of the people were white, sharing how teachers couldn’t pronounce her last name and felt like they didn’t know how to approach Barrientos. In middle school is when she first encountered the start of her classmates’ jokes that often went over Barrientos’ head as she never focused on her being an immigrant, but rather on her future aspirations.

Her mother instilled in her values, aspirations, and the golden motto: treat everyone the way you want to be treated that made her have the ability to not only chase her dreams but achieve them to as much as the law would allow.

“My status has a lot to do with my identities,” said Barrientos. “I was basically born and raised here, that’s what I tell people, but at the same time, I don’t want to deny my roots.”

When she graduated high school, it hit her just how much status matters. She didn’t have social security; therefore, it was a challenge getting jobs or applying to universities. However, due to AB-540, a law that allows college students to pay in-state tuition in California, Barrientos was able to attend college.

Barrientos shared how, although some people assume that she is basically “American,” it’s important for people to understand that regardless of how long she has been a resident here, she is still treated second class within society.

Because Barrientos didn’t have a social security number, Barrientos worked jobs cleaning hotels and swamp meets to obtain cash. While she doesn’t hold shame, it was a struggle not to be able to participate in the same opportunities as her peers.

When Barrientos first received DACA, she shared how it opened up a lot of opportunities for her to be able to apply for jobs. However, the process comes with burdens such as hiring a lawyer to assist with the documentation forms. It expires every two years, which adds stress to your ability to maintain jobs or be in the U.S., and it is a timely and costly process that should be started as early as 9 months before it expires and costs over $500.

DACA, while it opens doors to provide safety and hope, when Barrientos looked into it she realized how unfair it seems that she will never be able to apply for citizenship through the program.

“There is no pathway for us to become citizens. They want to keep us in the system so that we won’t actually ever become a citizen and we don’t get to benefit… It seems unfair. I am grateful that I can work but at the same time it feels like a cage and I am limited,” said Barrientos.

Heidy Santigo-Hernandez, a Cal State Bakersfield senior, also shared insight into how the DACA process works and her own story of what it is like to be a DACA recipient behind the scenes. Hernandez also has an older brother with a green card and a younger brother who is a US citizen, which gives her the ability to see multiple perspectives when it comes to immigration in the US.

“When I was younger… [I was] scared that my parents would go work and not come home,” shared Hernandez. “You just feel uneasy not knowing what the future holds for us [children of immigrants].”

Although Hernandez is older and more knowledgeable about the process, there is still uncertainty about the future, especially with the current ICE raids that have taken place in Bakersfield.

Hernandez shared how her parents paid her tuition and provided housing as well as she was able to have a job, with Trump in office deciding to terminate the program, she feels like her parents’ sacrifices are for nothing as she won’t be able to work if the program is taken away.

Hernandez is heartbroken about some of the stigmas that immigrants receive, such as people who are bringing drugs and crime into America, when in reality the majority of them are people who are here to pay their bills, look after their families, and mind their own business.

Hernandez shared how the Dreamers Resource Center, a center at the CSUB campus that provides support, resources, and legal services for undocumented and AB-540 recipients, has been a huge help for her as a student. She starts the tedious process of DACA renewal as early as six months in advance, and she always faces a fear of knowing if she will be accepted. The DRC has been a huge support for Hernandez in not only answering questions and helping with paperwork, but they will also try to see if there are sponsors or fee assistance for the application. The DRC is the space where she goes to help secure her DACA status.

Tags: , ,

Jocelynn Landon

Jocelynn Landon (she/her) has been a staff reporter with Kern Sol since January 2025. She was born and raised in Bakersfield and is currently attending Cal State Bakersfield, working to obtain her bachelor's in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism. You can reach her at Jocelynn@southkernsol.org