Yaakub Vijandre was getting ready for his mechanic job when six government vehicles surrounded his Dallas-area home. Federal agents emerged, one pointing a weapon at him, and took him into custody during the early October incident.
DACA Protection Under Scrutiny
Vijandre represents one of approximately 20 DACA recipients arrested or detained since President Donald Trump took office in January, according to Home is Here, a campaign tracking these cases. The Obama-era program has protected hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the United States as children since 2012, provided they maintained clean records.
The Trump administration claims it targeted Vijandre over social media activity. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the freelance videographer and pro-Palestinian activist made posts glorifying terrorism, including one celebrating Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's former leader in Iraq.
Changing Enforcement Patterns
These arrests indicate a significant shift in how U.S. immigration authorities handle DACA recipients. Previously, individuals facing status revocation would receive warnings and opportunities to contest decisions before detention. Now, DACA recipients face immediate arrest without preliminary notifications in some cases.
Chris Godshall-Bennett, Vijandre's attorney, argues his client's social media activity constitutes protected speech. The government hasn't provided specific details about the problematic posts in court documents, according to the lawyer.
Vijandre remains detained in a Georgia facility while facing potential deportation to the Philippines, a country he hasn't visited since his family brought him to the U.S. in 2001 when he was 14 years old.
Broader Immigration Crackdown
The administration's approach extends beyond DACA arrests. Immigrants now face increased social media vetting when applying for visas, green cards, citizenship, or requesting children's release from federal custody. The government has also moved to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
McLaughlin's statement emphasized that DACA does not confer legal status and recipients can lose protection for various reasons, including criminal activity or national security concerns.
Other cases illustrate this pattern. Catalina Santiago Santiago, a 28-year-old activist from El Paso, was arrested in August despite presenting a valid DACA work permit. Days later, federal officers arrested Paulo Cesar Gamez Lira outside his El Paso home, dislocating his shoulder during the apprehension according to his attorneys.
Both individuals were detained for over a month before their attorneys secured release. Marisa Ong, representing both clients, stated the government failed to notify them about DACA termination intentions beforehand.
DACA recipients can legally lose status if convicted of felonies, significant misdemeanors involving harm, DUI, drug distribution, or multiple misdemeanors. National security threats also justify revocation.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Santiago had previous trespassing and narcotics charges, while Gamez Lira faced marijuana possession allegations. However, Ong noted the government presented no evidence of past misconduct during release petitions.
As Vijandre's attorney Godshall-Bennett observed, the administration has drawn a clear line between citizens and noncitizens, with the apparent goal of removing as many immigrants as possible while making entry increasingly difficult.
