Higher Education Community Asks Congress to Pass Legislation Protecting Dreamers
October 11, 2017

 

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The Trump administration rescinded the policy Sept. 5, 2017, but delayed ending it until March 5, 2018.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.