Last week, President Donald Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protected nearly 800,000 people, and gave Congress six months to consider appropriate legislative solutions for the program.
This change means no new applications will be approved and approved applications for advance parole for DACA recipients will generally be honored.
DACA provides young people who were brought to the United States as children with temporary protection from deportation if they can demonstrate that they meet several criteria, according to whitehouse.gov.
Fifteen state attorneys general and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit last Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to challenge Trump’s decision to end DACA.
The suit alleges the Trump administration “violated the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution by discriminating against DREAMers of Mexican origin, who make up 78 percent of DACA recipients; violated Due Process rights; and harmed States’ residents, institutions, and economies.”
UT System Chancellor William McRaven and UTRGV President Guy Bailey issued statements last Tuesday saying DACA students’ opportunities should be upheld and continued.
Several UTRGV students have voiced their concerns and displeasure on social media. Some may even feel lost and are close to losing faith.
Don’t.
The fight is not over.
Trump may have ended DACA, but he gave Congress a window to save it.
Six months may not seem like enough time to come up with new legislation, but we encourage you to not lose faith.
The best solution we can offer for anyone under immense stress because of this issue is to get informed.
As UTRGV Student Success Vice President Kristin Croyle and Rebecca Gadson, associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students, said in an interview with The Rider, “Knowledge is power.”
UTRGV will offer forums for campus community members to learn more about the DACA situation.
Take advantage of opportunities like these. Learn what your rights are and what options you have.
Moreover, we encourage you to contact your U.S. representatives to encourage and motivate them to help resolve this issue.
In Edinburg, campus community members can call District 15 U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez’s office at 682-5545. The Edinburg district office is located at 2864 W. Trenton Rd.
In Brownsville, District 34 U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela’s office number is 544-8352 and is located at 333 Ebony Ave.
Both Democrat representatives issued statements voicing their displeasure with Trump’s decision and showing their support to save DACA.
You are not alone. Staying informed and relaying accurate information is important, now more than ever.
There are resources available at UTRGV for those seeking help.
It may seem as if it is the darkest of times, but, again, the fight is not over. There is still time to save DACA.
There is still time to keep the dream alive.
