Newly DACA-mented Arkansas Students Discuss Higher Education Challenges

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Erika Andiola and Cesar Vargas, advocates from the Dream Action Coalition

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The challenges facing Latino students at the University of Arkansas who refer to themselves as “DACA-mented” is the focus of a public discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 in the Verizon Ballroom of the Arkansas Union.

“DACAmented and Still DREAMing” is sponsored by four U of A Latino student organizations: the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., the League of United Latin American Citizens, and Phi Iota Alpha -- Alpha Lambda Chapter.

When Congress failed to pass the DREAM act – which would grant legal status to young people who were brought into this country as children – the federal government decided to give Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to those undocumented immigrants who qualified.

“This event will create awareness of the personal challenges, as well as give a face to the DACA recipients in Arkansas and even here at our university,” said Pamela Aguilar, a member of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. at the U of A.

These students no longer face deportation and are allowed to work legally, but they still face challenges – particularly when it comes to equal access to higher education. In Arkansas they are all required to pay out-of-state tuition, even when they live in Arkansas and graduated from Arkansas schools.

DACAmented and Still DREAMing will open with a presentation about the Deferred Action program by William Schwab, professor of sociology and author of “Right to DREAM.”  A panel discussion will follow, moderated by Spanish instructor Jeanette Arnhart, and featuring DACAmented students from Arkansas. There will also be a special appearance by nationally recognized advocates Cesar Vargas and Erika Andiola from the Dream Action Coalition.

“We felt that this event was necessary in order to highlight the fact that although DREAMers now have the ability to work legally, be protected from deportations and positively contribute to society they are still not able to fulfill one of their greatest aspirations, which is to have the opportunity to access higher education in the same rate as their peers,” said Michel Rangel, President of the League of United Latin American Citizens at the University.

Arkansas is one of four states with the fastest growing undocumented population, with a DACA community of roughly 9,000 students and some of the most restrictive tuition policies in the country.

 “The inequalities that my friends have to go through just to be able to walk with me on graduation day are unreasonable, they have sat with me through long hours at the library working just as hard as me if not even harder. Our newly elected officials need to realize that we as a state are decreasing these students return on investment by disallowing DREAMers to pursue equal higher education and continue to increase their contributions to our community,” said Oliver Trejo, Vice-President of the Phi Iota Alpha, Alpha Lambda Chapter at the university.