We were here before DACA, we will be here after. We will continue to fight to protect our people from deportation and push for a future where every person, regardless of immigration status, can live and thrive without fear.
Unfortunately the Trump Administration does not think DACA recipients deserve protection from deportation any longer. It is now up to us and our communities to support each other.
While educators must continue to embrace the resilience of our undocumented students, they must also be prepared to address the detrimental impact that the Trump Administration’s decision to start dismantling DACA will have in our entire school community. And as millions of students and educators across the country face an uncertain and changing reality during a global health crisis, now more than ever, we need our teachers more than ever.
Educators like faculty, teachers, school counselors, administrators and school staff are often the first line of support for approximately 9,000 DACAmented teachers, the 3.9 million students who are part of mixed-status families in our k-12 schools, not to mention those in higher education and all of their families who are vulnerable to detention and deportation.
Now that COVID-19 is part of our realities and our schools have closed, this presents yet another challenge on how to provide that support and safe space undocumented and DACA recipient students have come to rely on from their educators.
Some added concerns undocumented and DACA-recipient students might have at this time:
Some specific actions you can take right now is by implementing these best practices in your school community to show support for the undocumented community in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on DACA.
Check out the below resources to help you support DACA students and community members now and after we hear back from the Supreme Court:
