Recent arrests of individuals brought to the U.S. as children have raised alarms among immigrant rights advocates. They fear the Trump administration is undermining protections established by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. An "Enforcement Tracker" created by the coalition "Home is Here" reports at least 18 cases where DACA recipients have been deported or face deportation after being detained by immigration authorities since President Trump took office.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, a spokesperson for United We Dream, a coalition member. "We know there are many more and that this administration is just really breaking the promise that the U.S. government made to these people to protect them from deportation."

The tracker is set to be publicly released during a press conference with members of Congress. DACA, initiated by President Barack Obama in 2012, offers deportation protections to individuals who arrived in the U.S. as children, allowing them to stay and work legally for renewable two-year terms. To qualify, recipients must pass background checks and submit biometric data to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Some individuals listed in the tracker reportedly have no criminal records, while others have minor offenses. Advocates argue that many of these offenses do not disqualify them from DACA protections. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson stated, "Illegal aliens who claim to be recipients of DACA are not automatically protected from deportations. DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country."

One notable case involves Paulo Gamez Lira, a DACA recipient from El Paso, Texas. On August 13, he was arrested by federal agents while pulling into his mother's driveway. Video footage shows agents surrounding his vehicle and forcibly removing him, injuring his shoulder in the process. Gamez Lira, who has lived in the U.S. since infancy, informed the agents of his DACA status but was still taken into custody. He has three children, including a daughter with medical issues.

In 2016, Gamez Lira faced a marijuana possession charge but pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. His attorneys argue that this charge, if it exists, is nearly ten years old and should not affect his DACA eligibility. DHS labeled him a "criminal illegal alien" and he is currently held at the Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico, facing removal proceedings.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, individuals are ineligible for DACA if they have felony convictions or significant misdemeanors. Immigration experts emphasize that those with active DACA status have already been vetted and should not be subject to renewed scrutiny unless new criminal activity arises.

Another case involves Erick Hernandez, an Uber driver who was detained after making a wrong turn near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. His attorney claims he accidentally entered Mexico and is now accused of attempting to re-enter the U.S. illegally. Hernandez, who fled El Salvador at age 14, faces potential deportation despite having no criminal record.

Hernandez expressed feelings of discrimination following his arrest, stating, "You feel disappointed and sad because you've overcome so many things, and then they tell you goodbye."

Additionally, Javier Diaz Santana, a deaf man working at a car wash near Los Angeles, was arrested during a crackdown on illegal immigration. His attorney noted that Diaz Santana struggled to communicate his DACA status during his detention. He had been in the U.S. since he was five years old and had previously faced removal proceedings that were closed due to his DACA status. Now, the government has reopened his case.

DHS maintains that the rule of law will be upheld, stating, "The facts are this individual is an illegal alien. This Administration is not going to ignore the rule of law."

As these cases unfold, advocates continue to voice their concerns about the future of DACA and the individuals it was designed to protect.