On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of the DACA program (protected undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children). President Trump set a six month timeline from the announcement (March 5) for Congress to provide legislation that legalizes DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). This means that those who already are part of the program can renew, but new applications will not be accepted.
According to the Pew Research Center, Denver has one of the largest concentrations of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., approximately 130,000. It is unclear how many undocumented students there are. Dr. Rebecca Galemba, a professor at the University of Denver said, “there is no way to know how many undocumented students we have, unless they come forward and ask for help.”
DACA enabled undocumented students to gain a higher education, which they otherwise would not have been able to have. Fryda Faugier Ferreira, a junior at DU, and an undocumented student, is proof of that. “[DACA] is everything to me,” she said. “It’s my opportunity to work; it’s my opportunity to study; without it, I would not be here.”
DACA was a program started by the Obama Administration. It was announced on June 15, 2012 by the head of the Department of Homeland Security. People who came to the United States as children had a means to gain eligibility for work authorization. Eligibility lasts for two years and is subject to renewal.
The Impact of DACA
DACA provided students with opportunities they would otherwise have not been able to achieve. For Fryda, that was the ability to get a higher education. Its repeal had just as high an impact. At DU, students have a sense of fear. “It’s been difficult,” said Fryda. “If there was a sense of safety, it’s kind of gone.”
DACA has not just affected the DU community, but the greater Denver area as well. Blanca Trejo represents Keeping the Dream Alive, an organization dedicated to helping undocumented students gain the support needed to pursue higher education. She described the impact of DACA as helping students stay motivated through high school because they have the ability to apply for college.
Immigrant Sentiment
The hostility toward undocumented immigrants has caused a lot of fear and anxiety amongst most undocumented immigrants. Blanca described the impact as damaging to everyone because there are families where everyone is undocumented, and there are some where the children are citizens and the parents aren’t. She posed the question, “what happens to the children if their parents are deported”? At DU, Fryda said that the Trump administration’s stance on Immigration “made a lot of students less vocal about their status.” As an undocumented student, Fryda has felt this herself. The University of Denver vowed to protect its students in the wake of the current immigration sentiment and the announcement of the end of DACA.
Resources
In response to the repeal of DACA, DU has set up resources to help students. Fryda mentioned the emergency fund students can apply for, the access to affordable legal council, and the University’s commitment to not allow ICE officials on campus. DU has made this information known to students like Fryda by posting it on their website and making public statements. Dr. Galemba spoke of the recent DACA renewal clinic, and of the Korbel school’s alternative to study abroad, a requirement that undocumented students can’t complete.
Despite the resources available for DACA students, there is still a sense that DU could do more. Fryda said Colorado College provides its undocumented students with attorneys and Colorado State University has greater scholarship funds. Dr. Galemba said DU has pretty explicitly stated that they will not be called a sanctuary campus. She said, “failure to use the term [sanctuary campus] is failure to commit.”
Outsiders Looking In
DU, as Fryda described, is a mostly white institution with 20% people of color, which gives other students the ability to make a difference. Fryda said, “I can’t call my senators, but you can.” The Dream Act, which would allow DACA recipients to receive permanent residence, is currently up for debate. Letting Congressmen know that there is support for this bill would encourage them to pass it. Students have a lot of power; it’s just a matter of using it.
A Student's Perspective 