Oct. 16-20 Designated Higher Education Theme Week
Higher
education associations representing a broad range of U.S. colleges and
universities are urging Congress to promptly pass legislation
permanently protecting Dreamers, outstanding young people brought to the
United States as children.
To assist in this effort, the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition provides information and resources
allowing campus leaders, staff, faculty and students to highlight the
accomplishments and contributions of Dreamers on college and university
campuses.
As part of larger community advocacy
initiatives that include business, tech and immigration rights groups,
October 16-20 has been designated as Protect Dreamers higher education theme week. Among the potential activities: write op-eds featuring student Dreamers and their achievements; contact members of Congress; mobilize alumni networks; and invite lawmakers to campus to meet with student Dreamers.
The advocacy efforts will continue throughout
the fall as Congress considers what to do in the wake of the Trump
administration’s decision
to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.
DACA allowed undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States at
a young age to become eligible for a work permit, a Social Security
card, a driver’s license and deferred deportation.
The Trump administration rescinded the policy
Sept. 5, 2017, but delayed ending it until March 5, 2018. In granting a
six-month delay, President Trump asked Congress to pass legislation to
provide a permanent solution for those currently protected under DACA.
Roughly 350,000 of the 800,000 individuals with DACA status are enrolled in school or college. ACE’s blog, Higher Education Today, is featuring Faces of Dreamers
as another way to tell the stories of this high-achieving and talented
group of individuals, who work and pay taxes, attend colleges and serve
in the military.