For those who don’t yet know, many of our students will be experiencing a great deal of stress this week.
In 2012, after 5-10 years of sustained organizing and heroic fighting by young people living in the U.S. without documents, President Obama passed an Executive Order called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program allowed for “Dreamers” who had been brought here as children to continue to stay in the country for short terms at a time pending “good behavior,” etc. Some say it was a short term solution while the politicians worked on a comprehensive plan. People from lots of different political orientations say it was a sell out. Others say it was the best we could get.
The program has allowed for some temporary relief for hundreds of thousands of young people who faced the daily threat of deportation, even if it did nothing to protect their family members who came to the U.S. as adults. Many of our students, and their family members have acted in accordance with the law, and have expected the government to return its commitment.
This week, President Trump is planning to rescind this Executive Order, even over objections from powerful members of his own party. The order is still in effect unless formal legal action is taken by Trump, and people are still working to ensure that DACA remains the law.
Our students will no doubt be feeling it.
Please check out these resources from NEA, make plans for connecting with your students and co-workers this week, and let us know what is happening in your school.
Stay tuned for more.
Durham Association of Educators 