A group of Dominican University students met with federal lawmakers and prominent immigration advocates this month as they traveled to Capitol Hill in a push to secure permanent protections for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“They were really transformed,” Jacky Neri Arias, director of Dominican’s Center for Cultural Liberation, said of the five students who volunteered to share their personal stories of living undocumented and the explain the need for DACA to continue. “The students gained a visible confidence and pride. They also gained advocacy skills for their communities and language they may have not had before.”
Organized by the bipartisan political organization FWD.us, the visit drew undocumented students from around the country, advocating for DACA protections to be passed by the U.S. Senate.
Dominican students spoke formally and informally with leaders like Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Illinois Congressmen Chuy Garcia and Brad Schneider, and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The students were also part of a press conference led by Durbin and attended by other DACA supporters, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Additionally, they met immigration activists who have been advocating for reforms since the early 2000s, Arias said.
“These are people that students and their families have seen on TV for years and years, so it was a very cool opportunity to interact with them,” she said.
Arias noted that while the Dominican students experienced a supportive environment while in Washington, some undocumented young adults who arrived from other states found the legislators of their home states less receptive.
“Some of their congresspeople refused to meet with them at all,” she said.
While advocates urge the Senate to pass DACA protections in the aftermath of the recent 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling, this is just the beginning, Arias said.
“If something does pass it will be good news for our students, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near comprehensive immigration reform,” Arias said.
