♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA ON THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT'S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP RULING, AND HER VIEWS ON CONDITIONS AT THE FLORENCE I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTER.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY WILL HAVE MORE ON TODAY'S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP RULING.

>>> AND A DACA RECIPIENT SHARES THE FUTURE OF A YOUTH-LED NONPROFIT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A MAJOR U.S.

SUPREME COURT DECISION ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CAME DOWN TODAY, AND THERE ARE CONTINUED CONCERNS OVER REPORTS OF DETAINEES BEING MISTREATED AT THE FLORENCE I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTER.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME IN ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE BACK IN D.C., THEY UPHELD THE AMENDMENT, YOUR THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S RULING?

>> TODAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISION REAFFIRMED WHAT WE'VE KNOWN ALL ALONG, IF YOU ARE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU ARE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.

THERE WAS NEVER A LEGITIMATE LEGAL QUESTION, IT WAS A BASIC READING COMPREHENSION TEST OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE 14th AMENDMENT COULDN'T BE CLEAR, ALL PERSONS BORN ARE NATURALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUBJECT TO JURISDICTIONS THEREOF ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE THEY RESIDE.

AS CORE THE CASE IS ROOTED IN TRUMP'S ANTI-IMMIGRANT AGENDA.

TED: AS FAR AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND A FEW OF THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE 14th AMENDMENT WAS NEVER MEANT FOR EVERYONE, IT WAS MEANT FOR FREED BLACK SLAVES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

IS THERE A POINT IN THERE?

>> NO, THERE ISN'T.

THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST BLATANT UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTION THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS EVER TAKEN, AND IT'S CONCERNING TO ME AND NOTEWORTHY OBVIOUSLY THAT THIS WAS A SPLIT DECISION, 6-3.

ORGANIZERS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WE'RE NOT ASSUMING THAT THIS FIGHT IS OVER.

IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR IT.

TED: LAST QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO THE FLORENCE I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTER.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE FIGHT GOES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE NEXT?

>> THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO TRY TO -- HE'S BEEN ARGUING THIS BIRTHER SINCE HE RAN WITH OBAMA, AND WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOP ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AT DOING IS SCAPEGOATING PEOPLE, MAKING IT SEEM AS IT'S BECAUSE, IN THIS CASE BECAUSE OF IMMIGRANTS, BECAUSE OF PEOPLE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE CHILDREN HERE.

THEY'RE THE REASON WHY AMERICANS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, WHY THIS COUNTRY IS IN THE SITUATION IT'S IN.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE BECAUSE OF IMMIGRANTS AND BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, AMERICA IS WHAT IT IS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS FOR THAT.

TED: WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE DECISION HERE COMING UP A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM, BUT I WANT TO GET TO THE I.C.E.

FLORENCE PROCESSING FACILITY.

WHAT IS THIS FACILITY DESIGNED AND SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> WELL, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE PROCESSED SHORT TERM, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF STAGING IT IS, WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY COMING INTO THE DETENTION SYSTEM, THE I.C.E.

SYSTEM, OR LEAVING AND DEPARTING AND GOING TO ANOTHER FACILITY OR ON A PLANE TO GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, SOMETIMES, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE, SUPPOSED TO BE A VERY SHORT-TERM 72-HOUR SORT OF SITUATION.

WHAT WE'VE HEARD AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

TED: WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN AS FAR AS THE CONDITIONS THERE?

THERE IS A QUOTE HERE, IT WAS DEEPLY DISTURBING WHAT YOU HAD WITNESSED.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, IT'S THE UNANNOUNCED VISITS THAT ARE REALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT I FEEL I CAN GET AN ACCURATE READ AS TO WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.

ONLY WAY RIGHT NOW THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO GET A VERBAL GLIMPSE AS TO REAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE GOING ON INSIDE SINCE MEDIA ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM GOING IN, YOU KNOW, I HAVE -- THEY'VE BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME BY A GENTLEMEN WHO WAS THERE, HE SAID FOR THREE WEEKS.

WHEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, HE CHOKED UP, HE COULDN'T CLEARLY ARTICULATE HOW BAD IT WAS.

THE FACILITIES I'VE SEEN ARE HORRIBLE.

WHEN I WAS ASKING WHERE IS LOSS CONOS WHEN I WENT TO FLORENCE, THEY SAID WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I HAVE TO FIND OUT THE NAME OF EVERY SPECIFIC AREA, WHEN I ASKED I WANT TO GO TO THE STAGING FACILITY, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHERE I WENT, AND THEN IT WAS PRETTY OVERCROWDED.

WHEN I WAS ASKING PEOPLE ARE YOU EATING?

THEY'RE LIKE THROWING UP UGLY -- A SANDWICH THAT LOOKED REALLY OLD AND WRAPPED UP.

IT DID NOT LOOK EDIBLE.

WHILE I WAS THERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE PUSHING IN ALL OF THESE TO-GO BOXES OF FOOD THAT LOOKED VERY EDIBLE AND THAT'S THE SAME SITUATION THEY SAW IN DILLY, TEXAS, WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING HUNGER STRIKES BECAUSE THE FOOD IS SO BAD, AND WHEN I GET THERE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS GET THERE, IT'S LIKE A SPREAD OF THE BEST KIND OF FOOD THAT YOU COULD EVER WANT, AND PRETENDING THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

TED: THAT, AGAIN, WAS THE SCHEDULED VISIT, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THE SURPRISE VISIT SHOWED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PICTURE?

>> THE SURPRISE VISITS SHOW THE OVERCROWDING SITUATION.

LIKE WHEN I WENT TO A ROCK IN MESA, THAT FACILITY, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE SPACE THAT WAS MADE FOR ABOUT 21 PEOPLE, AND IF I ASK THOSE GENTLEMEN TO SIT DOWN, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITHOUT SITTING TWO AND THREE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

SO THE OVERCROWDING CONDITIONS ARE SCARY.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE AIR ON.

THERE ARE NO FACILITIES BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT -- IN THEORY SUPPOSED TO BE LONG-TERM FACILITIES BUT BECOMING MORE AND MORE THAT WAY, WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALLY PUSH FORWARD THE BILL THAT I INTRODUCED WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE TIME IN THESE AREAS TO 12 HOURS.

TED: TO 12 HOURS, ALSO, IS THERE NOT LEGISLATION REGARDING THE CONDITIONS OF THE FACILITIES?

.

>> YES.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO -- THERE ARE SO MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY TO ANYONE WHO HAS GONE TO VISIT AND MANY MORE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONTINUE TO GO TO UNANNOUNCED VISITS.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS THAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I WENT TO TEXAS, WHEN I SAW THE ONES IN MESA, THE CONDITIONS ARE VERY SIMILAR, IN THAT IT'S JUST INHUMANE, AND IT IS A MORAL STAIN ON THIS COUNTRY AND JUST WRONG ON THE MOST BASIC LEVEL.

>> FOR THOSE WHO SAY ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHO SEE THIS VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU, THEY WILL SAY THAT THESE PEOPLE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DETENTION CENTERS FOR THOSE CONVICTED OR SUSPICIOUS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, VIOLENT ACTIVITY.

THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE ALL THAT COMFORTABLE.

IT'S MEANT TO BE, AS YOU MENTIONED, A SHORT-TERM DETENTION CENTER FOR THEM TO BE MOVED ELSEWHERE.

WHEN THEY SAY THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT, CONSIDERING THE PEOPLE BEING HELD, YOU SAY -- >> I SAY THAT'S THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE EVER HEARD.

THAT'S WHY I KEEP SAYING THE SYSTEM IS INHUMANE.

91% OF PEOPLE DETAINED ARE BEING HELD IN PRIVATELY OPERATED FACILITIES.

THAT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS GETTING PAID A LOT FOR THEIR -- THIS IS THE REWARD FOR MANY OF THESE CORPORATIONS WHO DONATED MILLIONS TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

NOW THEY'RE GETTING THEIR PAYOUT, AND TO THE FACILITIES THAT I'VE SEEN WHERE THEY GET $15 MILLION A MONTH FLAT, CORPORATIONS ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIRST, AND THE PEOPLE IN THESE FACILITIES, THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIMES.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THERE IS A MAN I SAW IN FLORENCE, VISITED HIM.

FOUR MONTHS LATER, HE WAS RELEASED AND NOW HE HAS LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.

IF HE WAS SUCH A HARDENED CRIMINAL AND A RISK TO THIS COUNTRY, WHY WOULD WE GIVE HIM LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE TWO WEEKS AFTER HE'S RELEASED.

TED: LAST QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

IS THIS ISSUE SOFTENING?

ARE YOU SEEING MORE MOVEMENT REGARDING KEEPING THESE FOLKS A LESSER AMOUNT OF TIME?

IS ANYTHING CHANGING?

>> IT'S GETTING WORSE.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF A PUSH FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION AND OF I.C.E.

TO OPEN UP MORE DETENTION FACILITIES IN WAREHOUSE ENVIRONMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO WAREHOUSE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, NOT PEOPLE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN LESS.

TED: CONGRESSWOMAN ADELITA GRIJALVA, IT WAS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

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TED: AS WE MENTIONED, THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT TODAY REJECTED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EFFORT TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

HIGH COURT UPHELD A CITIZEN CLAUSE OF THE 14th AMENDMENT WHICH ALLOWS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND SOME TEMPORARY FOREIGN VISITORS.

ATTORNEY ELIZABETH CHATHAM JOINS US FOR A LOOK AT THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF TODAY'S DECISION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE DECISION?

>> I WAS AND I WASN'T.

I WASN'T SURPRISED WITH THE ACTUAL HOLDING.

I DID FEEL THAT THE POSITION WAS MUCH STRONGER TO MAINTAIN 14th AMENDMENT AS IS WELL SETTLED AND COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY CHILD BORN ON AMERICAN SOIL IS GOING TO BE A U.S.

CITIZEN REGARDLESS OF THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THEIR PARENTS.

THAT I WAS NOT SURPRISED.

I WAS SURPRISED AT THE NEAR SPLIT, IT WAS TECHNICALLY A 5-4 DECISION.

FIVE OF THE JUSTICES ALL AGREED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ELEMENT.

THERE WAS ONE POSITION WITH JUSTICE KAVANAUGH WHERE HE AGREED ON JUDGMENT.

IN THE NEWS, YOU'LL SEE IT'S A 6-3 DECISION THAT HE DISSENTED TO THE RATIONALE AND ON THE BASIS OF A FEDERAL STATUTE RATHER THAN THE CONSTITUTION.

TED: AND BY SAYING IT'S NOT THE CONSTITUTION I'M RULING HERE, IT'S FEDERAL LAW, IS HE NOT KICKING DOORS OPEN, SHOWING LIGHT, SAYING HERE, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS, GO THIS ROUTE, DON'T GO THAT ONE?

>> RIGHT.

HE WAS SUGGESTING THAT THE COURT WOULD RELOOK AT THIS ISSUE IF THERE WAS A CONGRESSIONAL AMENDMENT, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, OR IF THERE WAS EVEN A LAW THAT CREATED ADDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS THAT WOULD THEN BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PROBABLY KICKED UP THE CURB TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> THE 14th AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS THE CITIZENSHIP CLAUSE, THE KEY HERE.

ALL PERSONS BORN ARE NATURALIZED IN THE U.S.

AND SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF ARE CITIZENS.

ADMINISTRATION ARGUED THAT IF YOU ARE BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF HERE.

YOU'RE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF THERE.

DID THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, THAT WAS THE LOSING ARGUMENT THAT THERE WAS ARGUMENT ON DOMICILE, WHERE IS YOUR DOMICILE?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DOES IT ATTACH TO LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATUS, AND THEN IT ALSO ATTACHED TO THE CONCEPT OF ALLEGIANCE.

WHERE DOES THIS INDIVIDUAL HAVE ALLEGIANCE?

IS IT TO THE UNITED STATES, TO THE FOREIGN COUNTRY?

AND JUSTICE GORSUCH OPENED IT UP TO SAY, WHAT IF SOMEONE IS STATELESS, THEY HAVE NO DOMICILE.

HAVING NO DOMICILE, WHAT DOES IT LEAVE FOR THE CHILD, AND THEN DOES THE CHILD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON ALLEGIANCE OR DOMICILE?

TED: YEAH, YEAH, AN ARGUMENT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT THE 14th AMENDMENT WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACKS WHO WERE JUST DELIVERED FROM SLAVERY AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, IT WAS NOT MEANT FOR ANYONE ELSE BUT THAT PARTICULAR GROUP, BUT THE ARGUMENT, THE OTHER ARGUMENT WAS WHAT, IF THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION WANTED, THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD HAVE SAID.

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE'S NO LANGUAGE ABOUT MOTHER, FATHER, RACE, ALLEGIANCE, DOMICILE.

THAT IS NOT THE LANGUAGE IN THE 14th AMENDMENT.

I THINK A VERY IMPORTANT POINT IS THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE APPLIES, ANY CHILD BELONGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY ARE A U.S.

CITIZEN UNIVERSALLY.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COUNTRY THEIR PARENTS ARE FROM OR WHAT THEIR PARENTS' IMMIGRATION STATUS IS OR ALLEGIANCES ARE.

IT'S THE FACT THEY WERE BORN ON U.S.

SOIL THAT CONTROLS THE DEFINITION OF WHO IS A U.S.

CITIZEN.

TED: THIS IS NOT A QUESTION WHAT THE LAW SHOULD BE.

IT'S A QUESTION WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE LAW IS.

>> CORRECT.

TED: THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?

>> THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

TED: SO AS FAR AS FUTURE CHALLENGES, HOW DOES CONGRESS GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

WHAT ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FOR SOMETHING?

WE'RE HEARING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A FULL SPECTRUM OF IDEAS FLOATING AROUND.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT CONGRESS CAN CONVENE AND HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO AMEND THE 14th AMENDMENT.

THERE COULD BE LEGISLATION ALSO INTRODUCED BY CONGRESS TO DEFINE MORE NARROWLY THE EXCEPTIONS.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TODAY FOR WHO CAN BE A CITIZEN BASED ON IF THEY'RE A FOREIGN DIGNITARY WHO HAD CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, THOSE CHILDREN WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE CONSIDERED U.S.

CITIZENS.

AS ONE EXAMPLE, THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE POSSIBLY CHANGES TO HOW CDP ADMINISTERS FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE U.S.

SOME PEOPLE ARE FLOATING AROUND A PREGNANCY QUESTION THAT COULD BE ON DOCUMENTATION WHEN YOU'RE ARRIVING AT THE U.S., ASKING A WOMAN ARE YOU PREGNANT?

ARE YOU AWARE OF PREGNANCY.

TED: IS THAT THE BIRTHER SCHEME I KEEP HEARING ABOUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH IT, BUT IT'S FLOATED RIGHT NOW.

TED: BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS PUSHING U.S.

ATTORNEYS TO PUNISH, QUOTE, BIRTHER TOURISM SCHEMES.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

THAT IS DEFINITELY AN INVESTIGATION, ACTIVE INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT TRAVEL COMPANIES, THEY'RE LOOKING AT MORE ORGANIZED OUTFITS THAT ARE BRINGING WOMEN AND FAMILIES TO THE U.S.

AND FOR THIS PURPOSE OF HAVING CHILDREN HERE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, LIZ CHATHAM, PARTNER STINSON LLP, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

.

TED: ALIENTO IS CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF SERVING YOUTH IN ARIZONA, THROUGH MENTORSHIP AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

DACA STANDS TO DEFERRED ACTION OF CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS AND CAME TO THE U.S.

AS CHILDREN AND PROTECTING THEM BEING DEPORTED AS CHILDREN.

REYNA MONTOYA IS A DACA RECIPIENT HERSELF.

CONGRATULATIONS, DID YOU THINK IT WAS GOING TO LAST TEN YEARS?

>> NO, IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A NONPROFIT.

I WAS 25 WITH A LOT OF HOPE WANTING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, AND HERE WE ARE TEN YEARS LATER, WE HAVE SOLVED PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO DO.

>> THE MISSION SEEMS TO BE SERVING IMMIGRANT YOUTH.

HOW EXACTLY, WHAT KIND SERVICES ARE OFFERED?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YES, WE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND YOUTH CITIZEN CHILDREN AND STUDENTS THAT COME FROM MIXED IMMIGRATION STATUS FAMILIES TO TRANSFORM TRAUMA INTO HOPE AND ACTION, WE OFFER EDUCATION INITIATIVES, MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES THROUGH THE ARTS AND HELP THEM GO TO COLLEGE, FIGURE OUT A PATHWAY, AND ADVOCACY.

TED: HAVE THE GOALS, HAS THE MISSION CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

HAS ALIENTO EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

>> IT HAS DEFINITELY EVOLVED.

THE BACKUP PROGRAM WHEN WE WERE LAUNCHING ALIENTO IN SUMMER OF 2016, A LOT OF THE DACA RECIPIENTS WERE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, WERE IN COLLEGE, NOW TEN YEARS LATER, THEY ARE THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE, ABOUT 300,000 YOUTH CITIZEN CHILDREN.

THEIR PARENTS ARE DACA RECIPIENTS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT DEFINITELY HAS THE BULK OF WHO WE SERVE.

TED: IT IS STILL YOUTH ORIENTED, CORRECT?

>> IT IS CHILDREN AGES 7-24 AND FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE NOW ARE UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A DACA PROGRAM TO APPLY TO.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DACA PROGRAM.

WE'VE HAD YOU ON BEFORE, WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH DACA?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

.

>> WE'RE HAVING A PENDING COURT DECISION COMING OUT OF TEXAS.

WE'RE STILL HOLDING OUR BREATH ON THAT DECISION.

IN THE MEANTIME WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SYSTEMATICALLY PROVIDED DELAYS, A LOT OF DACA RECIPIENTS ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS, THEY ARE ERASED OF DEPORTATION EVEN THOUGH THEY APPLIED SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.

>> THE IMPACT ON EDUCATION FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HEARING?

>> HAVING HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND STRESS.

IT'S HARDER TO CONCENTRATE, SOME OF THE KIDS BORN HERE ARE WORRIED MOM AND DAD ARE NOT ABLE TO PICK THEM UP AFTER SCHOOL.

THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, THERE IS A LOT OF HOPE.

WHAT I GET TO SEE IS STUDENTS ARE RE-ENROLLING BACK TO SCHOOL.

WE WERE ABLE TO LINK ARMS WITH THE ARIZONA BORDERS AND NOW WE HAVE A REINSTATED IN-STATE TUITION.

OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS AND GRADUATING.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST WHO IS NO LONGER A STUDENT AND HELPING PATIENTS.

TED: IS THAT THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

WHAT DO YOU LOOK BACK ON TEN YEARS AND GO THAT WAS A BIGGIE?

>> YES, DEFINITELY BEING ABLE TO REINSTATE IN-STATE TUITION WE HAVE A PATHWAY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DREAMER POPULATION.

NOW I WOULD SAY SEEING THE REAL STORIES OF HOW THAT'S BEEN IMPACTED.

I SEE SOME OF THE KIDDOS IN THE PROGRAM WHERE IN ELEMENTARY, NOW GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND GETTING READY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST ATTORNEY WHO JUST PASSED HER BAR EXAM HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY EXCITING TO SEE THE SYSTEMIC IMPACT THEY HAVE TO SEEING STUDENTS GRADUATING.

TED: YOU ARE SEEING SUCCESS OUT THERE, AND THERE ARE POSITIVE STORIES.

GOT TO LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.

THE DETENTION SITUATION GOING ON, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ARIZONA, IS THAT AFFECTING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE?

>> DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH VERY DIFFICULT CASES THAT WE EVEN HAD A MIDDLE SCHOOLER WRONGFULLY DETAINED, AND SHE WAS PUT IN A SHELTER FOR TWO MONTHS WHERE WE HAD TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL TO SAY HOW DO YOU HAVE A REINTEGRATION PLAN, BECAUSE THE KID WITHOUT STRUCTURE OR ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TWO MONTHS.

IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING TO SEE THAT.

WE'RE SEEING MORE STUDENTS WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEY WILL CONTINUE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WHO REACHED OUT TO ALIENTO ASKING US CAN I APPLY FOR FAFSA THOUGH I'M A U.S.

CITIZEN BUT MY MOM IS DETAINED.

HOW DO I FILL OUT THE FAFSA.

TED: IS THAT HOW IT WORKS, PEOPLE COME TO YOU OR YOU GO TO SITUATIONS WHERE THEY NEED YOUR HELP?

>> WE DO BOTH.

PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW WHAT ALIENTO, WE HAVE 75,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

35,000 ARE YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO MANY SAID I SAW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TikT ALL, BUT I AM PROUD OF THE TEAM AND A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE OF FAITH AND BUSINESS LEADERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US.

THIS HAS NEVER -- WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF ONLY REYNA WOULD BE STANDING HERE, BUT I'M STANDING WITH A VILLAGE OF TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND STUDENTS.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS, TEN YEARS, REYNA MONTOYA.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.