All children should have the opportunity to learn and grow without fear. At every stage of life, access to education is essential to a young person’s development and their ability to interact with peers, gain skills, and expand their talents.
Approximately 98,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools in the U.S. every year. These students have the same hopes and dreams as their fellow graduates: to gain a college degree, pursue a career, and be able to provide for themselves and their loved ones. And yet, far too often, these young people graduate and face serious barriers to higher education because of their immigration status.
School grounds are unlikely places for immigration raids. This is because both Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued policy memoranda from 2011 that directs agents not to engage in enforcement activity at “sensitive locations” unless there are exigent circumstances or prior supervisory approval. Schools have been designated sensitive locations and thus far the sensitive locations memos remain in effect.
Immigrant students, particularly those who are undocumented, face unique challenges that impact every aspect of their education. LAUSD alone serves an immigrant student body of nearly 30,000 students with one in every four being undocumented. This section provides trusted resources to help students understand their rights and help connect them with safe spaces/resources. We want students to feel empowered, informed, and safe in the schools where they learn.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that allowed certain individuals who met program requirements to request a grant of deferred action. Individuals who were granted DACA are able to renew their grant and are eligible for work authorization. First time DACA applications continue to be on hold. No new DACA applications are being approved at this time.
As educators, you play a critical role in creating safe, supportive and inclusive environments for all students. This section is designed to provide you with tools to effectively support your students. We recognize the importance of staying informed and ready to respond to evolving needs; these resources will help you provide the best possible support to all your students navigating complex immigration situations.
This guide was created for educators, school support staff and service providers who teach, mentor and help open the doors of opportunity for undocumented youth and unaccompanied and refugee children currently living in the United States. Educators, school support staff and service providers are often the first individuals a student and/or family comes out to as undocumented. Moreover, they are often the first ones to witness the impact of increased enforcement measures on students and their families. It’s critically important that educators, school support staff and service providers know the tools and resources available to help protect and prepare youth and families for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.
iAmerica is a source of empowerment for American immigrant families of all walks of life, providing the tools and support to be informed, inspire change and impact America’s future.
