STONE COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) - Stone County transport deputy Edgar Vasquez is still wearing his badge.

But he’s also still not able to move up the ranks.

“My certificate is not being recognized because of me having the DACA status,” Vasquez said.

Since 2012, Vasquez has been a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals plan.

The federal policy protects certain immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the United States as children.

“My mother brought me here for better opportunities,” Vasquez said. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Mississippi law requires that full-time deputies be citizens and bars non-citizens from carrying guns.

Vasquez said he’s taken his concerns to state leaders, including Gov. Tate Reeves.

“His staff pretty much has told me that it’s hard to ge

See Full Page