New Education Department Guidance on DACA and Undocumented Youth Great Step Toward Facilitating Success of Students

Washington, D.C. — Responding to the release of the U.S. Department of Education’s resource guide to help schools, colleges, teachers, and other personnel support the college and career success of undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, youth in secondary and postsecondary settings, Tom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

Undocumented youth—including those with DACA—are members of our communities and our families. They are future business owners, employees, and co-workers. They are future Americans. This country should do all it reasonably can to educate these young people and ensure their success because their success is our success. Additionally, undocumented people are at heightened risk of discrimination and other abuses and undocumented students no less so. Empowering people with knowledge of their rights and the resources to exercise those rights is what a good democratic society does.

Sarah Audelo, Policy Director for Generation Progress, added:
This guide is a great step to help educators and staff support students for academic and career success, to debunk misconceptions about the legal rights of undocumented students, and to ensure that youth are taking the necessary steps to enroll and/or re-enroll in the DACA program. As a previous Generation Progress report quoted in the resource guide explores, among many other issues, the admissions process for postsecondary institutions can be tough for undocumented youth, who face a number of additional hurdles. We hope that Congress, states, institutions, and entire systems of higher education will continue this work to ensure that our undocumented community has the support it deserves.

The following experts are available upon request to speak on this issue:

  • Tom Jawetz, Vice President of Immigration Policy, Center for American Progress
  • Catherine E. Brown, Vice President of Education Policy, Center for American Progress
  • Sarah Audelo, Policy Director, Generation Progress

Related resources:

For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.

Featured

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • ZeroEyes, Academic Innovators Partner to Provide Safety Solutions

    ZeroEyes, which produces a multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, recently announced a partnership with Academic Innovators, according to a news release.

  • nursing students talk while studying in a hallway

    Elsevier Launches VR Simulation Solution for Nursing Students

    Elsevier has introduced Shadow Health Lab with Virtual Reality, a simulation platform that allows nursing students to interact with virtual patients and build clinical judgment skills in a safe, realistic environment.