DACA and Undocumented Student Resources

DACA 2022:  PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE…

A message from President Daisy Cocco De Filippis
 
2022 marks the tenth anniversary of DACA. As we wait for its fate to be decided, this is the proper time to look back – and to look forward.
Created in 2012 by President Barack Obama’s administration, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) helps to protect – in the words of the National Immigration Forum’s Samantha Howland Zaleya – “undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, who are commonly referred to as ‘Dreamers.’ DACA temporarily shields them from deportation and provides them work authorization with possible renewal every two years.”

Other DACA benefits include the opportunity to receive a Social Security Number and State identification or a Driver’s License, apply for in-state tuition and have access to health care. According to the New York Times, “DACA recipient households pay roughly $6 billion in federal taxes and just over $3 billion in state and local taxes each year. Like other immigrants, they make vital contributions to our economy and communities.”

DACA has made the American Dream available to more than 800,000 youthful immigrants over the last ten years.

Because it was created by an Executive Order of the President, it can also be eradicated by an Executive Order, which is exactly what happened in 2017 when the Trump Administration declared the program unconstitutional and sought to end it. The Supreme Court stepped in to keep DACA alive, but there have been further legal challenges. In June 2021 a Federal judge in Texas ruled that the program was illegal and that President Obama had exceeded his authority in creating DACA. The Biden Administration has appealed the Texas ruling. The ultimate fate of DACA is up in the air. A decision is expected sometime this summer.

America’s immigration policies are in desperate need of examination and revision – but destroying DACA is not the answer. As racial, economic, and cultural tensions mount in this country, it is very easy to feel dismayed, frightened, even angry at a system that seems to be spiraling out of control.

This is why I want to say that everyone at Hostos, individually and collectively, stands behind and supports all of its students, documented or undocumented. We will fight for you. Your safety, your well-being, your ability to move through this world without fear is of the utmost importance to us.

You are not alone.
We are with you.

In solidarity,
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
President, Hostos Community College

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Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change, transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities for over 50 years. Hostos serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, and a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs for all students.
 
We strive to create a diverse and inclusive community of students who are passionate learners and dedicated to their educational success regardless of their citizenship status. And we are committed to supporting and guiding DACA and undocumented students through the enrollment process and during their matriculation at Hostos.This site is dedicated to help DACA and undocumented students find resources within CUNY. These resources range from how to apply or renew for DACA, scholarships, and our college admission process. 

Together we stand with Undocumented Students!

Questions?:

• For more information on the Admission process contact the Hostos Immigration Liaisons here. 
• For more DACA information click here.
• For more information on FREE, and CONFIDENTIAL immigration law services contact Citizenship Now! (cuny.edu).
• For informational videos click here.