Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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

  • 10/20/15

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

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.