WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Every day at 4 a.m., Cesar wakes up to sell burritos on the streets of Los Angeles. He spends a few hours preparing food in his apartment kitchen and later sets up a small canopy tent with a grill, several coolers and a large sign, made by his sister, advertising "burritos for sale."
He has done this for the last three weeks, after finding out just over a month ago that he was terminated from his human relations job. He lost the job because of renewal delays to his status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.
"At first, when I was let go, I was feeling devastated, defeated," said Cesar, who did not want his last name used for fear of government retribution. "But, after going through those feelings, I knew I couldn't just sit there."
Cesar is one of many DACA recipients who have lost their jobs in recent months due to renewal delays, largely caused by increased vetting procedures. Although the Department of Homeland Security did not release data on the number of people facing delays, more than 500,000 people rely on DACA, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. The program requires recipients to renew their status every two years.
