Today, October 5th, marks the last day those eligible can submit their DACA renewal applications.
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Over the last year, we have shared a variety of DACA related resources, including Know Your Rights sheets, emergency planning, and guidelines for creating safe campuses where students and their families can be free of immigration enforcement and focused on learning. We are sharing those with you again today. In addition, we encourage educators to visit the National Immigration Law Center for more guidance.
There is no doubt that DACA created opportunity and has allowed its recipients to not only further their studies—but also become part of our workforce. But as of this writing, the future for DACA recipients is still uncertain. As Congress enters into another round of debate on both DACA and those immigrants without documentation, we stand firm in our commitment to all of America’s students—regardless of their status or their parents' status. We urge our elected officials to stop playing politics with the future of our communities, reinstate DACA as an option for those who qualify but have not yet applied, and work toward real immigration solutions for those among us who are not yet fully realized as citizens.
As we look to rebuild after the damage of multiple hurricanes, regroup after the catastrophic loss of life on American soil, and move forward into an uncertain tomorrow, there is one constant: who we are for our children. Our children look to us for guidance and support, and our schools and communities should be places they trust and thrive in, not places of fear. We have been heartened to see school districts across the country make bold statements affirming their support of DACA students and staff. We encourage school administrators to use these resources and continue to create safe spaces for their immigrant students and families.
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As a nonprofit organization committed to educational equity, we know how important it is to stand up for—and with—those who are marginalized, whether in the classroom or out. Cesar Chavez once said, “Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?” As we enter into a new phase in the immigration debate, now is the time for us to put ourselves in our students' shoes and question whether our solutions are rooted in “the goodness and the best.” Wherever we land next, let’s work to ensure our solutions are befitting of the book of humanity.
