For students who arrived in the U.S. before their 16th birthday, the federal program that provides benefits to undocumented young people has been invaluable. But the program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), has faced uncertainty since President Trump took office.
Students like Daniela Vargas, a DACA recipient whose status had lapsed and who was targeted for deportation after she spoke out at a news conference, reveal the urgency of this matter.
An open letter signed by 639 college and university presidents also highlights the need for additional steps.
Not all colleges are familiar with the fact that DACA students are still undocumented. My following eight suggestions for consideration by university administrators, staff and faculty members build on earlier recommendations from faculty members at UC Irvine to support all undocumented students:
First, colleges ought to consider immigrant student needs as part of broader campus diversity initiatives, particularly examining the effects of immigrant status and its intersections with a student’s racial/ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, class and first-generation student status. Undocumented student identity in itself is not a monolithic category; in fact there is significant heterogeneity among members of the undocumented population. Racial/ethnic background and sexual orientation are two important aspects of identities to highlight.
Second, every institution should consider the creation of its own undocumented student program and/or resource center, as universities including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, the University of Arizona, California State University-Northridge and California State University-Los Angeles have already done. Resources offered include academic counseling, assistance with DACA renewal, referrals to legal resources in the community and peer-mentoring. UC Berkeley’s program, which provides resources for academic counseling, mental health and legal services, offers information and resources on their website for institutions interested in establishing an Undocumented Student Program.
