DACA
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, created by the Obama Administration in 2012, has protected an estimated 650,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. To be eligible for DACA, immigrants had to arrive in the United States before 2007 and had to be 15 years or younger at the time. The future of the policy remains uncertain. CSF endorses the DACA policy and advocates on behalf of all Dreamers living in America.
College Success Foundation believes education is the cornerstone of democracy and all members of our society should have equal access. We have actively championed and advocated for education protections for DACA recipients, and we celebrate the Supreme Court decision to maintain the program made on June 18, 2020, which overruled the Trump administration’s order to end the program.
The work has just begun, and the future of DACA remains uncertain. On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order reinstating DACA and in March, the House approved the 2021 DREAM Act, creating a pathway toward citizenship for Dreamers. The bill has not gone up for a Senate vote yet, and so the DREAM Act has not become a law.
In July 2021, US District Judge declared DACA illegal when Texas and eight other conservative states sued the federal government, barring the government from approving any new applications. The Biden administration appealed that ruling and proposed regulations to make DACA resistant to future court battles. While the program is intact for existing recipients, only a permanent legislative solution like the DREAM Act passed by Congress will protect DACA.
There are approximately 30,000 DACA eligible residents in Washington state, all of whom are living in uncertainty. We must all work harder to ensure the next generation is protected and can have the chance to achieve their academic dreams.
According to the Census Bureau’s “Educational Attainment in the US: 2017” report, DACA recipients graduate high school at a rate slightly above the average American, yet only 12.5 percent have attained a Bachelor’s degree. This low postsecondary completion rate is due to a lack of protection against deportation, reduced access to higher education, and limited financial support. The contributions of these students are fundamental to the vitality of our society. We are committed to removing the obstacles they face so they may feel secure within and supported by our country.
“All students should have the opportunity to achieve their academic dreams, no matter where they were born,” says James Dorsey, President and CEO of College Success Foundation. “Equity and equal opportunity have been at the heart of CSF’s mission and purpose for 20 years, and we will continue to work hard to make sure every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
Read CSF Scholar & DACA recipient Ray’s story.
Express your support for the DACA program and the 2021 DREAM Act! Contact your senators and ask them to codify DACA into law.