Chicago 'Dreamers' study save and plan for the worst while Congress debates immigration relief
Ariana Romero
Ariana Romero  wasnât so lucky.  Her  DACA status expired about a week before Trump ended the program.
 Romero   29  was unable to pay the $495 application fee and lost  her  protections and work permit in August. Under the new guidelines  DACA recipients whose status expired before Sept. 5 were no longer eligible to renew.
Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune Ariana Romero  29  was not able to renew  her  DACA application  and is feeling uncertain about  her  future.  Ariana Romero  29   was not able to renew  her  DACA application  and is feeling uncertain about  her  future. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
âThey tell you to renew at least four months in advance  but I wasnât able to â  she  said. âI thought I had time. My plan was to have the money by September.â
The Avondale resident  who came to this country from Mexico when  she  was 3  met with immigration advocacy groups but couldnât find a solution.  Romero  said  she âs now âpreparing for the worst.â  She  has postponed college plans to focus on saving as much money as possible.
âIt just feels like Iâm exposed  â Romero  said. âThey know where I live.â
[TGT] wasnât so lucky.  Her  DACA status expired about a week before Trump ended the program.
 Romero   29  was unable to pay the $495 application fee and lost  her  protections and work permit in August. Under the new guidelines  DACA recipients whose status expired before Sept. 5 were no longer eligible to renew.
 [TGT] 29  was not able to renew   [TGT]   DACA application  and is feeling uncertain about   [TGT]   future.   [TGT] 29   was not able to renew   [TGT]   DACA application  and is feeling uncertain about   [TGT]   future. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
âThey tell you to renew at least four months in advance  but I wasnât able to â  she  said. âI thought I had time. My plan was to have the money by September.â
The Avondale resident  who came to this country from Mexico when  she  was 3  met with immigration advocacy groups but couldnât find a solution.   [TGT] said  she âs now âpreparing for the worst.â  She  has postponed college plans to focus on saving as much money as possible.
âIt just feels like Iâm exposed  â  [TGT] said. âThey know where I live.â