Trump Ends DACA: Historical Shift Leaves Students Behind and in Danger for Deportation

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This morning, Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration is calling for an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – an immigration policy created in 2012 by President Obama that allowed undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors to receive a renewable two- year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.

The loss of these immigrants would hurt the American economy, especially in states like California and Florida because of the high number of DACA participants. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said “Ending the program is devastating not just for recipients, but for our economy. California businesses would lose more than a billion dollars in turnover costs.”

Many CEO’s of large companies that include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and various other businesses have fought against the rescinding of DACA. This is not a surprise because the deportation of the individuals protected under DACA would mean that these companies lose thousands of employees. According to MSNBC, 91 percent of immigrants under DACA are employed with social security and pay taxes. While the majority of the students are handling a full time work schedule and are full time students, the majority of their money is being spent to provide for their family. Monica A, a student at Cal State Dominguez Hills pays approximately 30% out of pocket to pay for her tuition and on top of that pays $495 every 2 years to request for her renewal.

At Cal State Northridge, 76% of undocumented students are protected by the DACA program. President Dianne F. Harrison and Chancellor Timothy P. white released statements to the student body and staff, commenting on their disappointment towards the rescinding of this program. The CSUN Dream center was opened in 2016 in order to provide students under the program by providing resources that would be particularly helpful for those in need.
https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/Pages/systemwide-communication-and-guidance.aspx

The El Popo Newspaper was first published in 1970 by students concerned about the lack of a Chicana and Chicano perspective in newspapers. As a result, students called the newspaper, El Popo. The paper was named El Popo after the volcano El Popocatepetl. Involved in Chicana/o Movement of the 60’s and 70’s, students saw a connection between the smoke spewing volcano ready to erupt and the student movement ready to engage. Thus, throughout the El Popo’s forty-six years, the name continues to symbolize and to represent the spirit of each generation of students that contribute to the pages of the El Popo Newspaper. Faculty Advisor/Publisher George Sanchez, MA Carlos R. Guerrero, Ph.D., 1992-2021