"On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status." - Department of Homeland Security
I stand with educational leaders across the country – and Congressional, state, business, and community leaders from both parties – who believe that the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is in the best interest of students so that they can continue their education and contribute to our community and our nation.
Last month, the American Council on Education sent a letter to President Trump asking him to continue his promise to allow “productive and high achieving individuals continue to work, study and contribute to our great country.” This letter was signed by the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Community College Trustees, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and many others. The consensus of many in the higher education community is that since the DACA program was enacted in 2012 there have been positive impacts as these students actively contribute to our nation.
At EPCC, we will continue to assess the results of these changes and keep our community informed. Our students should know that they are welcome here. All students, including those here as part of the DACA program, contribute to a rich and diverse campus and have the potential to contribute to our region and nation. EPCC will continue to provide affordable, high quality education to students from our community and region. We value the experiences and multiple perspectives that diverse students bring to our campuses. EPCC is committed to doing everything we can, within the law, to help young people move their lives forward.