ISSUES

Supporting a Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Students in 2021


Since its inception, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has protected almost 800,000 young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation and allowed them to apply for renewable two-year work permits. There is an enormous opportunity in 2021 to build a humane, commonsense approach to immigration policy that provides a pathway to legalization for DACA recipients and other undocumented  youth. The Presidents’ Alliance, in conjunction with FWD.us, developed a toolkit for higher education institutions to help support undocumented students in 2021.

The education community is a critical ally in the conversation. Colleges and universities can provide important support for the approximately 427,000 undocumented students in higher education who are vulnerable to detention and deportation. Leaders in higher education can address the potential loss of DACA and explain how it will impact students on campus.

This toolkit covers:

  • Opportunities to pass legislation that will protect DACA recipients and other undocumented students;
  • Resources for how institutions and higher education leaders can effectively advocate for a pathway to
    citizenship; and,
  •  Concerns in the case of a negative ruling in Texas v. United States.

Supporting a Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Students in 2021.