Saba Nafees, a Ph.D. student at Texas Tech University, was the 108th Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient recognized by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (Democrat) of Illinois, at senate floor proceedings on Wednesday.
“This young lady and her family can be an important part of America’s future if and when we decide in the United States senate that she is worth our effort,” said Durbin.
Nafees, born in Karachi, Pakistan, moved illegally to the United States with her parents in 2004–when she was only 11 years old.
After settling in Fort Worth where her grandfather lived, Nafees’ mother petitioned for a green card through him because he was a U.S. citizen. But when he died, so too did their petition.
Nafees received DACA in 2013.
She moved to Lubbock to attended Texas Tech University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies. She is currently completing her Ph.D. for mathematical biology in hopes of applying her skills to “advance research to cure diseases like cancer,” she said.
While managing her studies, research and role as a teaching assistant, she also advocates for DACA Dreamers, who are at risk of being deported if legislation to reinstate DACA does not pass.
“It’s almost like a dichotomous life.The same is the case with dreamers across the nation,” Nafees said on Sunday. “We all have to figure out how to balance what we are doing in terms of work and school and also advocacy.”
She admits facing “highs and lows” during the battle for DACA, because “all these things have a mental side effect on your mind and heart because humans can only do so much.”
Nafees continues to pursue a path toward reinstating DACA, and believes her story told on Capital Hill is just one in a sea of thousands of others.
“They live the American life but they have no way to technically call themselves American, which is very very unfortunate. I’m just a very small part of the entire movement and I hope he continues to share these stories,” she said about Durbin’s Dreamer announcements in the senate.
The March 5th deadline approaches quickly, when DACA protections are set to end, worrying Nafees.
“A lot of people on the hill think that we can wait a little longer. We have the March fifth deadline. We still have more time to solve this issue,” she said,
“If we don’t get something done now, I don’t think anything will happen after that.”
Durbin ended his speech on Wednesday with one plea.
“In the name of justice, in the name of the values that made the country what it is today, we ought to stand up on a bipartisan basis and solve this problem in a humane and sensible way,” said Durbin.
