July 2, 2019
Dear Presidents' Alliance Member,
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We are writing to share updates on the recent activity from the Supreme Court involving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the 2020 Census.
In addition, last Friday, the Presidents’ Alliance and CCCIE (Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education) submitted a
comment letter
on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule that would result in the eviction of mixed-status families from public housing. See below for more details.
We also are sharing a useful
guide
for undocumented students and families developed by a coalition of Michigan organizations and universities.
Finally, we include analyses regarding higher education and immigration in the national discourse; and recent news reports regarding contracts (including university contracts) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Miriam Feldblum and Jose Magaña-Salgado
Executive Director & Director of Policy and Communications
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Supreme Court Announcement & Decisions on DACA and the Census
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As we shared last week, the Supreme Court spoke on two key issues affecting higher education. The first development is the Court’s announcement that it would combine and consider a variety of cases challenging the administration’s rescission of DACA. The Court
will hear oral arguments
during its fall term, likely issuing a decision in spring or by the end of June 2020.
Even though the Court made a decision to hear the cases, DACA renewals remain protected by the district court injunctions. Consequently, DACA recipients still have the opportunity to renew DACA. You can view the Alliance’s update on the court’s DACA announcement and steps DACA recipients can take
here
.
The second development is the Court’s
decision
to reject (for the time being) the administration's attempt to include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census, an addition that would potentially depress the number of immigrant students and families that complete the Census and affect the distribution of federal funds. You can read our summary on why an accurate Census matters greatly to higher education
here
.
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CCCIE and the Alliance to HUD: Keep Immigrant Students Housed!
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Last week, the Alliance and CCCIE submitted a joint
comment
opposing HUD’s proposed rule to exclude mixed-status families (e.g. those including undocumented members) from federally funded public housing. The rule would place
tens of thousands
of immigrant and citizen students and families at risk of eviction.
The consequences on education are significant, as housing stability is paramount to student educational success. Under HUD’s proposed rule, families would face the very difficult dilemma of splitting apart to maintain access to housing for those who remain eligible, or simply leaving housing and triggering the likelihood of more unstable forms of housing.
You can read the comment letter at this
link
. The
deadline
to comment on the proposed rule is July 9, 2019. A general template for comments, provided by the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign can be downloaded
here
.
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Michigan Coalition to Support Undocumented Communities
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Ronnie Rios, Presidents' Alliance Fellow, graduate student at the University of Michigan and with the National Forum/ULead Network at the University of Michigan, reports on a group of colleges, universities and community-based organizations supporting undocumented communities in the state of Michigan.
Since summer 2018, the group has hosted two large meetings to discuss advancing resources and centralizing support services and information for the undocumented population in the state. One of the updated resources is the
Undocumented Student Guide to College in Michigan
.
This guide is geared towards undocumented students and their families, with a focus on preparing for college, finding the right fit, and finding the funding for college as an undocumented student.
Below is a list of some of the member institutions and affiliated organizations. If your campus is part of a state-wide coalition to support undocumented students, let us know at
info@presidentsimmigrationalliance.org
!
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- Ferris State University
- Grand Valley Community College
- Grand Valley State University
- Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
- Michigan Alliance of Latinos Moving Towards Advancement
- Michigan College Access Network
- Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
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- National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good
- Northern Michigan University
- One Michigan for Immigrant Rights
- Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
- University of Michigan
- Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights
- Welcoming Michigan
- Western Michigan University
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Immigration and Higher Education in the National Discourse
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Last week, the Democratic presidential candidates had the first of two primary debates, with both
immigration
and
higher education issues
arising throughout. Candidates discussed access to higher education, immigration reform, and more.
For more information on where the different Democratic presidential candidates stand on immigration issues, you can review this
helpful analysis
by the Washington Post. For information on the current administration’s immigration policies and changes, the American Immigration Council released a report yesterday on the
administration's enforcement policies
; and the Pew Research Center provides a
helpful overview
of immigration visas and protection policy changes.
The Alliance, as a nonpartisan organization, is committed to working with both parties, and the current or new administration on issues related to higher education and immigration.
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A recent news report about contracts with CBP includes a number of higher education institutions, including those contracted to help provide humanitarian and emergency assistance and develop protocols. See the article
here
and a related
article
in the Columbia Spectator.
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