PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Valley woman is close to reaching her dream of becoming a nurse after years of hard work at Arizona State University. As the Trump administration chips away at protections for people who were brought to the U.S. as children, she fears her dream could slip away.

Maria Leon Pena is on track to graduate this December from ASU’s nursing school. The 28-year-old is a so-called “Dreamer” promised an opportunity through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“I’ve been in nursing school since 2023,” she explained.

But now every step forward in her education is clouded by fear that she could lose it all. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to help and take care of others,” she said.

She was brought to the U.S. when she was 5 years old.

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