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Research Results from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Education 

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Research Results from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Education 

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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an action that President Obama enacted in June 2012 to stop the deportation of children who arrived as young children in the United States. It does not provide a path to citizenship. It does allow these children to obtain education (K-12 and beyond), work, and apply for drivers licenses, as long as they do not obtain a criminal record (Harper &  O'Boyle, 2018).

In my future work in the education field, the issue of DACA students faces many legal and ethical questions. Every guidance counselor should know the legal status of their students. Being well informed about the rights of every student under your care, especially children of special circumstances, would promote better working relationships between the counselor and students.

Being in tuned to current events relating to DACA can be beneficial to both the educator and students. Since this issue is fluid, the laws are constantly changing. Guidance counselors can be an advocate for students if they understand and are updated on the newest information regarding the laws and ethical issues regarding DACA.

References:
Harper, B. & O'Boyle, B. (Sept. 2018). Explainer: What is DACA?  Americas Society/ Council of the Americas. Retrieved from: https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-what-daca

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While researching the topic of education and DACA recipients, I found that as of 2015, 365,000 high school students had DACA status, and 241,000 were college students, for a total of 51% of all DACA recipients living in the United States receiving an education.

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How many students are affected by President Trump's decision to end the program that shields young, undocumented immigrants, ages 15 and up, from deportation?

Counting students who have received approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) isn't easy. The reason is that schools, both high schools and colleges, generally don't ask students if they have DACA status. So the data aren't collected.

Some researchers and experts have come up with estimates, however. Some make guesses based on census data, calculating how many undocumented children arrived before 2007 and have lived in the United States continuously since. Others use proxies, such as students who don't provide social security numbers.

Last month the Migration Policy Institute released figures based on 2014 census data. It estimates that 365,000 high school students across the United States were eligible for DACA status, and that another 241,000 of DACA-eligible students were enrolled in college. Together, that's roughly half, or 51 percent, of the DACA-eligible population of nearly 1.2 million.

Even three years ago, 57,000 DACA-eligible people had already earned a four-year bachelor's degree, according to the same Migration Policy Institute report. That's 5 percent of a low-income population, most of whom were the first in their families to go to college. (For comparison, 18 percent of the general U.S. population under age 33 had a bachelor's degree in 2014.)

A much larger number of DACA-eligible people, over 130,000, had completed some college, but were no longer enrolled. Some of those, roughly 25,000 young adults, had earned two-year associate's degrees, the Migration Policy Institute estimates.

Not all DACA-eligible people have obtained the status. Many never apply for it, and remain undocumented. Others are in the middle of the application process. Of the 1.2 million eligible people, roughly 800,000 actually have DACA status, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How many of those people are students takes some additional guesswork.

In a letter to Congress dated September 6, 2017, a group of 64 advocacy organizations estimated that a fifth of the 800,000 DACA recipients (or 160,000 if you do the math) are currently enrolled in college.

In California, home to 30 percent of the nation's DACA population, college administrators have done some more counting. Maria Blanco works directly with undocumented students at nine of the University of California's campuses, as director of immigrant legal services. She helps students process DACA applications and renewals.

Blanco estimated that 4,000 undocumented students are enrolled in one of the University of California campuses, pursuing four-year degrees. She said another 10,000 undocumented students are in the California State University system, also pursuing four-year degrees. ( A Cal State spokeswoman put the estimate at 8,000 but emphasized the system does not track DACA status.*) The majority - 60,000 undocumented students - are at one of California's 114 community colleges. Of that total of 74,000 undocumented students, Blanco said 70 to 80 percent have DACA.

"By the time you're in college, you're informed, and hoping to work in a profession, and have a better job later," Blanco said. "All of that means that this is a group of people that takes advantage of DACA and the ability to work." The undocumented college students who don't have DACA are generally not eligible for it.

Blanco said the DACA students within the competitive University of California system are largely keeping up with their coursework and graduating. She's seen many students pursuing science degrees who are working in laboratories part time, networking and getting job experience.

"They're doing really well, especially since Cal Grants became available to them," after 2011, Blanco said. "They would sometimes run out of money and drop out. Since they've been able to work in addition to [receiving] Cal Grants, they tend to stay in and graduate."

Some other states, such as Wisconsin, do not permit DACA students to receive state aid.

One of the peculiarities of the DACA program is that recipients are not allowed to travel outside the United States. Blanco had previously secured travel exemptions for DACA students at the University of California. A map in her office has pins around the world, from Vietnam to Sweden, displaying where her student clients have studied or interned.

She said that 35 majors in the California State system actually require students to study abroad. Most are in language or history fields. With Trump's order last week, exemptions to the travel ban will no longer be granted, Blanco said. For these students, their major requirements - and graduation - are now in jeopardy.

* Clarification: An earlier version of this column did not have Cal State's estimate.
This story was produced by The Hechinger Report Join us today. , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
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Counting DACA students - The Hechinger Report

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How many students are affected by President Trump's decision to end the program that shields young, undocumented immigrants, ages 15 and up, from deportation? Counting students who have received approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) isn't easy. The reason is that schools, both high schools and colleges, generally don't ask students if they ...

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In searching the Angelo State University website, I came across a book from Sylvia Hurtado and Ruth Zambrana that outlines the experiences of Mexican American students through their educational experiences.

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the magic key: the educational journey of mexican americans from k-12 to college and beyond (louann atkins temple women & culture)

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education - social aspects - united states

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education / student life & student affairs

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social science / discrimination & race relations

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social science : discrimination & racism

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education / student life & student affairs

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social science / discrimination & race relations

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social science : discrimination & racism

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The Magic Key: The Educational Journey of Mexican Americans from K-12 to College and Beyond (Louann Atkins Temple Women & Culture)

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Mexican Americans comprise the largest subgroup of Latina/os, and their path to education can be a difficult one. Yet just as this group is often marginalized, so are their stories, and relatively few studies have chronicled the educational trajectory of Mexican American men and women. In this in...

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Legal and Ethical Principal that Interest Me: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients and Education

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Legal and Ethical Principal that Interest Me: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients and Education

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Following my research into legal and ethical issues relating to school counseling, the issue that intrigued me the most is the issue of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and education. This topic is very engaging since I live in a very diverse area, where the students in the school districts come from all walks of life, and DACA students are often looked down upon.

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Exploration Option #3: Trending Legal and Ethical Topics in Education

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Exploration Option #3: Trending Legal and Ethical Topics in Education

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In an article by Education Dive, Paterson (2018) reports on the struggles of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and their immigration status. Most DACA recipients believe that if the program ends, they will no longer be able to pursue education. Most recipients said they were worried about their immigration status.

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Dive Brief:

A survey of participants in the largest college access program for undocumented students suggests they still rank education and work as a priority, but they have become increasingly anxious about their future, especially in light of the potential end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs.

TheDream.US surveyed 1,400 of its scholars and found almost all believe college is extremely or very important, 71% are employed and 66% are pursing professions that require a license. Yet nearly 60% said the loss of immigration status would cause them to not have enough food, and about half of those who are parents said it would impact their child care. More than 80% said they were "very anxious" about their immigration status, and about one-quarter are uncomfortable crossing state lines in fear of encountering law enforcement or immigration officials.

TheDream.US, which works with over 75 colleges and has doled out more than $40 million in scholarships to undocumented students, recommended reinstating DACA and establishing a path to citizenship for immigrant students. It also suggests educational institutions set up resource centers to support undocumented students.

Dive Insight:

The report strongly supports the DACA program, which was established in 2012 under the Obama administration to grant temporary legal status to young people that were illegally brought to the U.S. as children so they could study and work in the country.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the phaseout of the program over a year ago, but several rulings by federal judges have put it in limbo. Now the administration has said if a lower court doesn't soon decide its fate, the administration will take it to the Supreme Court.

The decision to end DACA has been met with considerable resistance from some higher education leaders. More than 700 college and university presidents have signed onto a letter calling for the program to be upheld, and Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities, urged Congress to take action to make DACA protection permanent in a September statement, noting many are "students, scholars, and scientists at our universities."

Other recent developments have made college less affordable for some undocumented students. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that DACA students would no longer be able to receive in-state tuition, which was followed by a 40% decline in DACA student enrollment at Maricopa Community Colleges. Some college have shown their support for DACA students by lowering tuition rates or offering more scholarships. DACA students can't receive federal financial aid and aren't eligible for financial aid or in-state tuition in the majority of states, The Washington Post reported.

TheDream.US recommends colleges expand their financial support for DACA students and remove campus employment and resident assistant positions from "burdensome requirements" such as providing a social security numbers so they are available to Dreamers. DACA students can also benefit from legal assistance to find permanent immigration relief to increase their future prospects, the report states.

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Report: DACA students still ambitious but increasingly anxious

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A survey of participants in the largest college access program for undocumented students suggests they still rank education and work as a priority, but they have become increasingly anxious about their future, especially in light of the potential end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs. TheDream.US surveyed 1,400 of its scholars and found almost all believe college is extremely or very important, 71% are employed and 66% are pursing professions that require a license.

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Exploration Option #3: Trending Legal and Ethical Topics in Education

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Exploration Option #3: Trending Legal and Ethical Topics in Education

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In an article by Education Week, the AP ( 2018) reports that despite an increase in gun violence around the country, there have been no significant changes in gun laws to help keep students safe in schools. Governors across the  country are working on gun reform measures, but no sweeping changes have been made nationwide.

Reference:
Associated Press. ( Sept. 2018). Despite mass shootings, no sea change in state's gun laws. Education Week.

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Exploration Option #1: Interview with a High School Guidance Counselor

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Exploration Option #1: Interview with a High School Guidance Counselor

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I interviewed Vanessa Maroules, a high school guidance counselor in the Northwest Indiana area. She gave previously unknown insight about legal and ethical issues she has to contend with while working with students in her educational position.

#1: The confidentiality of students is a priority among educators. There are guideline in place on where she can talk to students and other staff members. In her district, no conversations are held in open spaces so confidentiality cannot be broken.

2. The issue of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is one that is constantly in need of monitoring. While the laws are ever changing, educators need to be aware for the safety and security of their students.

3. There are also ethical concerns within the field. One is duty to warn, or when a student expresses that they are in danger of hurting themselves or others.

4. Federal law mandates that students cannot be discriminated against based on a number of factors, including religion, disability and sexual orientation. Many students that seek the help of the guidance department are struggling with these issues.

5.  Ms. Maroules receives regular training on legal and ethical issues relating to students and education. She has in-service training days once a month, and has to complete 40-50 additional hours of training a year, including topics on legal and ethical principals. Some topics on recent training included: confidentiality, at-risk populations, bullying and harassment, responsibilities to parents and the school, school safety, and ethical decision making.

(V. Maroules, personal communication, October 25, 2018).

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Upon receiving my Masters in Education in Guidance and Counseling in December 2019, I plan on being employed as a guidance counselor at a small, private high school in Northwest Indiana.