As Republicans demagogue would be immigrants seeking asylum in America, Saul Falcon, brought to the U.S. at age two, is quietly building a solid life for himself and his young family, working as a teacher and hoping to become trained as a physicians' assistant.
The Republicans waste no opportunity to raise the specter of drug dealing, murderous immigrants swarming into the U.S. because of President Biden's "open door policy." They say nothing about the many immigrants who are here, having escaped danger and oppression in their native countries, and are now working to create their own American dream.
Indeed, Saul Falcon is a "Dreamer," an immigrant given protection by President Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allowed him to live and work in the U.S.
But then, Donald Trump attempted to kill that program, and the pressure for Saul to obtain documentation and his green card intensified in a journey that's been revealed in a new book, “Outsiders, a Journey to Belonging,” by Doreen Padilla Falcon, Saul's wife and our guest on the Lean to the Left podcast.
Doreen grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. When she was 14, she met Saul at school, and this young woman, half White and half Hispanic, eventually fell in love and married this handsome boy with the shiny black hair. Now, she and Saul live near Denver with their two children.
Doreen was the first in her family to graduate from college and go on to earn a graduate degree. In her current Human Resources role in local government, she wears many hats to support employees and is consistently advocating for positive change. "Outsiders: A Journey to Belonging" , which tells the true story of a Dreamer growing up in America, is an important part of that effort.
Some questions we asked Doreen during the interview:
Q. Tell us about your book and why you wrote it.
Q. What was it like battling to keep Saul from being deported to Mexico, especially after Trump tried to kill DACA?
Q. Where do things stand now with Saul and his quest to become a citizen?
Q. What advice do you give others who face this same situation?
Q. Congress continues to be unable to reform our dysfunctional immigration system. What are your thoughts about that?
Q. Immigrants, especially those from across our southern border, continue to be targeted by many politicians, mostly Republicans, and used as political pawns to whip up support from their right-wing base. What are your thoughts about that?
Q. How did you and your husband feel when Trump was in office pushing his wall along the southern border to keep immigrants from entering the U.S.?
Q. What about now, with the current crisis as thousands try to enter the U.S. seeking asylum from violence in their home countries? What should happen?
Q. Your husband was a DACA “dreamer.” What contributions has he made to the U.S. and American society?
Q. There are about 2 million “dreamers” in the U.S. today, with about 600,000 being beneficiaries of DACA. What should happen to them?
Q. Tell us about Barking Beagle Books. Why did you launch your own publishing company, and what’s the plan going forward?
Q. Where can people find your book?
Listen to the podcast:
View the podcast: https://youtu.be/kftPMCazLeA