My name is Magdaleno Martinez Hernandez. I am a DACA recipient who has been part of this program for over 10 years. DACA has given me the ability to live, work legally, and pursue my education in the United States — a country and community I deeply care about and have dedicated my career to serving.

I began my healthcare career in 2018 as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), working in skilled nursing facilities, sub-acute unit at St. John’s Camarillo Hospital, and later transferred to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where I served during the COVID-19 pandemic on the front lines, providing care during one of the most critical times our healthcare system has faced.

During my time at St. John’s RMC, I took every opportunity to learn from nurses and grow in my profession. This inspired me to pursue my education further and become a Registered Nurse, with the goal of providing higher-quality care to my patients and community.

After becoming an RN, I worked in telemetry for nearly two years before transferring to the ICU/CCU to challenge myself further and continue improving my skills in critical care. I have always been committed to learning, growing, and serving patients at the highest level possible.

While in nursing school and working, I also gave back to my community by volunteering with the Food Share program at Oxnard College, helping distribute food to families in need.

Unfortunately, when my DACA expired, I was forced to stop working. Three weeks later, I was officially terminated from my position as an ICU/CCU Registered Nurse due to delays in the DACA renewal process.

This experience has deeply impacted not only my career, but my ability to serve my community as a healthcare worker. I entered this profession to care for others, especially during times of crisis, and it is painful to be unable to do so due to administrative delays.

DACA renewal is essential because it allows individuals like me to continue contributing to our communities, especially in critical fields like healthcare. It provides stability, protects workers from losing their jobs, and ensures that trained professionals can continue serving patients in need.

I am respectfully asking for support in advocating for faster processing and renewal of DACA protections so that individuals like me can return to work. In addition, I hope this effort can contribute to a long-term solution — including a permanent pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients who have built their lives and careers in this country.

Thank you for taking the time to read and support this cause.