Posts Tagged: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

A Harvard Attorney Whose Job Is Advising Undocumented Students in the Age of Trump

As an immigration attorney for the past 14 years in both private practice and legal services, I feel confident in saying there is not a single kind of immigrant or one kind of immigration story. There are multifarious individuals and families of diverse global origin bearing a cornucopia of ideas, perspectives, hopes and dreams. This past year, I was given another vantage point to observe the mani...

Back in the Shadows? The DACA Saga Continues

From 2012 to 2017, nearly 15,000 New England residents participated in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA students are ineligible for federal financial aid programs, but state and institutional aid can flow to undocumented students. As of March 2017, 20 states, including Connecticut and Rhode Island, offered in-state tuition rates to undocumented students. It’s a mo...

NEBHE Releases Statement Calling on Congress to Legislate Permanent Protection for DACA Participants

NEBHE on Sept. 15 issued the following statement ... The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) urges Congress to follow the president's direction to legislate permanent protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA allowed "Dreamers" to "come out of the shadows," enroll in postsecondary opportunities and legally secure jobs. "Dreamers" are required to follo...

A Chance at Life: The Value of Legislative Action and Institutional Leadership for DACA Students

A Massachusetts resident, Faustina began working on her college applications last August. In the beginning, the process was going well. However, as she began receiving acceptance letters and financial aid award letters, things became difficult. As an undocumented student, Faustina did not have a permanent residency card, which most colleges need in order to provide financial aid. Unwavering in her...

Are DACA Students Still Safe to Stay?

The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about the future of the DACA program, creating uncertainty among recipients and their families. In February, a leaked draft of an internal memo hinted that the Trump administration intends to cut the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As of March 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was continuing to review DACA applica...

“Dreamers” Are at the Heart of the American Dream

The recent controversy surrounding a proposed ban on immigration from seven Middle East countries recalls similar times in our history. More than 130 years ago, Chinese immigration was restricted. In 1924, Japanese immigrants were effectively barred from entering the U.S., and Mexicans living here during the Depression were the subject of repatriation, even those who were U.S. citizens. Other rest...