SAN DIEGO.- It's a historic moment for all undocumented youths (DREAMers) looking to get a shot at the "American dream".

Starting last Wednesday, the US government will start processing requests for thousands of students to apply for the Deferred Action program that will grant temporary protection allowing them to obtain a work or student permit as well as driving licenses.

The forms are already available at the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) website; they have to be mailed along with a $465 fee.

It is estimated that in San Diego 20,000 young people could benefit from the program announced by President Barack Obama last June that puts a stop to deportations of undocumented students under 30 years of age.

For that reason, activist organizations and immigration experts created the Network of Assistance for DREAMers with the idea of informing anyone interested and prevent them from being victims of swindlers trying to take advantage of the situation.

"It should be clear that this is not a path to legalization", said attorney Cheri Attix, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "This program only grants a temporary permit for two years."

Although it was explained that the permit can later be renewed.

She urged young people to be very careful with this procedure and consulting a lawyer specialized in immigration issues, also to not be fooled by "consulters" or "notaries" that are not licensed for the proceeding.

"If anyone promises you to speed up the process or put you on the top of the list, they are lying, those are warning signs."

Itzel Guillén, an 18-year-old Patrick Henry High alum, is excited for this opportunity which she will seize to study a career at the San Diego State University (SDSU).

A Distrito Federal native, she arrived to the United States along with her family when she was four years old and has since lived fearing deportation. She says she has faced many obstacles at school due to her immigrant status, having been left out of school trips and without the opportunity of getting a driver's license.

That changed past Wednesday.

Her dream is graduating from college with a degree in Psychology; she will be starting next semester.

She says her only fear is that she will have to show her entire documentation to a federal agency, but that is "a risk she's willing to take." "I hope that this will be a step towards achieving my goals as well as an opportunity to show our potential."

On his part, Christian Ramírez, from the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, qualified this program as "historic on every level" and an opportunity for young people to keep contributing to the United States' development without fears.

"This is giving the next generation of leaders the opportunity to succeed in this country."

He explained that once the application is received, the interested parties will have a response in the next three months.

To inform more San Diegans, there will be community forums next Friday at 6 pm at the MiraCosta Community College in Oceanside, the Montgomery Middle School in San Diego and the Sweetwater High School in National City.

Attorneys and experts will provide information and guidance about the application process.

Ramírez reminded people that they will need to present documentation proving their stay in the United States, so he recommends them to start gathering school certificates and immunization records.

About the issue, Linda Zintz, communications director at the Unified District of San Diego stated that they already have a process to provide the documents to all students and alums that need them.

Original Text: Alexandra Mendoza