Schaer Lends Support to Rutgers Student from Passaic Whose DACA Status is Under Question

(PASSAIC) – Assemblyman Gary Schaer voiced his support Monday for Passaic resident and Rutgers student Carimer Andujar whose protective status under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is now in question as she awaits a hearing with deportation officers.

Andujar and her mother and sister fled domestic violence in the Dominican Republic when she was four and eventually settled in Passaic where she attended local schools and graduated from Passaic High School.  Now a junior chemical engineering student at Rutgers University, she had been awaiting renewal of her status as protected under former President Barack Obama’s 2012 DACA executive order when she received a letter to report to a deportation officer, a request considered unusual given her status.

“Carimer is an intelligent, civic-minded person who has lived by the rules while pursuing a shot at the American Dream with the hopes of earning a Master’s degree,” said Schaer (D-Bergen Passaic), who represents her legislative district.  “At a time when she should be focused on studying for her finals, she’s instead consumed by the worry that everything she has worked for could be taken away from her.

“The whole goal of DACA is to ensure that children who are brought here at a young age with no control over the situation, who adhere to our laws and work hard, should not be penalized, but instead have the opportunity to contribute to our society.  Carimer has epitomized this and devoted her free time to protecting other hard working, civic-minded individuals like herself.

“I stand firmly in her corner and join with my colleagues on the state and federal level who have voiced their support for the renewal of her DACA status.  She deserves a shot at the American Dream just like everyone else.”

Schaer noted that supporters will hold a rally for Andujar on Tuesday, May 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Peter Rodino Federal Immigration Building, 970 Broad Street, Newark, where she is scheduled to meet with the deportation officer at 9 a.m.