The Trump administration announced their decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on Sept. 5, leaving lives of thousands in uncertainty, including a handful of Longwood students.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the announcement to end DACA, stating the program failed to enforce immigration laws and “the compassionate thing to do is end the lawlessness.”
Shortly after the decision was announced, President Reveley sent out an email to campus on Tuesday evening stating that no matter what happens Longwood will “provide whatever encouragement and support” to those affected.
The Obama administration initiated the DACA program in 2012 to give temporary deportation relief to young illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents. The executive memo also allowed them to be able to work, go to school and obtain a driver’s license.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data, nearly 800,000 people are currently protected by the program. The data showed over 200,000 people have either renewed protection or were approved for the first time in 2017.
Now the future of these individuals is unknown as President Donald J. Trump announced Congress will have six months to legalize DACA, create an alternative or allow the program's protection to end.
Sessions said, “This will enable the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) to conduct an orderly change and fulfill the desire of this administration to create a time period for Congress to act, should it so choose.”
Hispanic Latino Association (HLA) President Brenda Pereira spoke against the decision, saying she was shocked.
“This is not about politics anymore. It’s not about which party you identify yourself; at this point, it’s how do you want to be remembered as a country,” said Pereira.
Referring to Session's remarks, she said there is nothing compassionate about the decision.
“What’s compassionate about it? Leaving their fate to congress who has failed before on giving them a decision? There’s no compassion in that,” said Pereira.
After the announcement to rescind DACA, multiple organizations including HLA, College Democrats, College Republicans, Black Student Association and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion came together in response.
They have created weekly programs to help teach the Longwood community about DACA and the risks those protected now face. HLA held the first of the series of meetings on Monday, Sept. 11.
“These programs are designed to educate. These activities seek to draw in the Longwood community, to bring people who may not even know what DACA is into the discussion,” said Longwood College Democrats President Joe Hyman.
The events will range from signs demonstrating who is affected to training sessions on how to deal with immigration issues. Hyman said the programs were the “key to teaching Longwood students and Longwood community.”
Both Pereira and Hyman also offered ways that students not affected by the DACA decision can get involved and support those that are.
“You have the right to call your congressman” said Hyman “Write a letter to your congressman, email them.”
To students who will be affected by this decision, Pereira said, “You’re not alone, you have support and I’m sorry. I’m sorry you have to go through this. It’s not fair, but you have people backing you."
