RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — For the past fourteen years, Sashank Sabbineni, a senior at NC State, has lived in the United States.
“Growing up, Charlotte was my home. I didn’t really know much about visas. I didn’t even know I had a visa. I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day,” Sabbineni said, standing in front of the memorial bell tower on campus.
It wasn’t until high school, when he was looking for an internship, that he understood his legal limitations.
“My parents broke the news to me that I wasn’t like any other kid. I couldn’t apply for jobs. I didn’t have a Social Security number,” said Sabbineni, who is studying biochemistry as an undergraduate. medical track.
He was born in India, as Fedora Castelino.
“I had an all-American childhood. I don’t remember what it was like not to be in America. In fact, I grew up wanting to serve in the US Army. I grew up interning, people-watching, talking to veterans. And it was in high school when I realized that ROTC programs would not be eligible for me even though I am all-American it was kind of hard to believe that my future career didn’t have the aspect of the Army or the Armed Forces or ROTC that I wanted,” said Castelino, who eventually moved with his family to the United States when he was 6 years old; they would eventually be installed in Apex.
Both came to the United States on H-1B visas, as children of immigrants working in the country. That provides legal protection until they are 21 when they need to get a green card or different visa status or face self-deportation.
“Admission to medical school for international students is incredibly difficult, so it makes a very marked difference,” Sabbineni said.
“We have to make sure we finish our education before we turn 21. Otherwise, it becomes very difficult to switch to a student visa and try to continue our education in the United States,” said Castelino, a rising sophomore at the University of South Carolina who is studying neuroscience.
“They don’t have the protection that DACA Dreamers have because they weren’t included 10 years ago, because 10 years ago we thought they were going to be able to get their paperwork to stay here,” the Democrat said. Congresswoman Deborah Ross, who represents the state’s 2nd district.
Due to an immigration backlog, young people like Sabbineni and Castelino may be stuck in the process, waiting for officials to take action on their ability to stay in the country.
Ross is part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking to address this, supporting an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would prevent “aging” for those who have been in the US for at least eight years, allowing them to stay . until a visa number for a green card is available or they can obtain another status.
“We have invested in these children for decades. We have paid for their education in public schools. Their parents pay taxes. They want to stay here. And we have a shortage of skilled workers right now. So why would we want to have them deported to a country that do not know to compete with the United States?” Ross said.
It is a subject that is especially shocking in the Triangle.
“We have so many highly-skilled workers who come to work at our universities or work at (Research Triangle Park), and they bring their children,” Ross said.
Lack of status can also drive families like Castelino’s apart.
“I have a little sister. She just turned 7 and she’s a US citizen and we’ve been trying to figure out what the next steps are if self-deportation is something we have to deal with. I practically raised my little sister.” and having to leave her behind is something that is very difficult not only for my mental health but also for my sister’s,” Castelino said. “And my whole family. Separation is really difficult, especially when I don’t know the country of my passport, the country of origin of my citizenship. I never really lived in it. I moved when I was only three months old and lived in different countries afterwards.” . that.”
Sabbineni is thankful that he no longer faces that uncertainty, after his family’s green card application was approved earlier this year.
“I just went crazy. I just remember that I was crying in the library, I called my mother afterwards and we were crying together. It was the greatest moment of happiness,” said Sabbineni, who continues to advocate for others who remain in that situation. situation.
Improve the Dream, an advocacy organization, estimates that there are more than 200,000 “documented dreamers” in the United States, who have lived in the country for an average of 12 years.
“I got an EMT certification a couple of years ago, but I couldn’t work as an EMT. I wanted to give back to my community, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t legally allowed to work. Once I got my green card, I was able to give back to my community by serving as EMT. I was able to do an internship this summer in research, and I can really pursue my dreams of going to medical school,” Sabbineni said.
Castelino added, “I’m currently serving as a volunteer at the (Sheriff’s Office) in Richland County (South Carolina) at the Citizens Academy. So that’s my way of serving. But I really hope that in the future I can serve.” as an officer in the army.”
This amendment is different from the CHILDREN’S ACT in the United States, which is separate legislation that would create a conditional path to citizenship based on certain residency and education requirements. Ross said efforts are underway to secure additional Republican support in the Senate for that bill.
“A lot of my friends and family ask me, ‘Why can’t you just apply for citizenship?’ And it’s really not that simple,” Sabbineni said. “To me, it seems like kids are very lucky and get a green card through their parents or have to self-deport when they’re 21 because of long delays. It’s a case of luck, it’s up in the air.” . A future is in the air. And right now, there is no linear path to citizenship for documented dreamers.”
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