Sayda Mariela Ayala-Pinto, an individual who was illegally present in the United States and had applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Pomona, California on July 3rd.
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She faces charges of felony fraud and embezzlement related to activities involving millions of dollars. Her DACA application was denied because of her alleged criminal history. The DACA program is designed to provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to eligible young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and meet certain criteria, such as not having a significant criminal record. Ayala-Pinto's case highlights that the program's vetting process includes a review of criminal backgrounds, and those engaged in serious criminal behavior may not only be denied DACA but also face legal consequences for their actions.