Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals forum tackles policy queries at Catawba Valley Community College

Erika Velasco | John Bailey Photo

Erika Velasco doesn’t shy away from talking about growing up as an undocumented student in the country.

Her family moved to the United States from Mexico when she was a little girl.

While her parents taught her the value of hard work, it was the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy that opened the door to her future.

She shared her story during Wednesday’s public forum hosted by Catawba Valley Community College, the Lenoir-Rhyne University’s office of Multicultural Affairs and BB&T bank.