The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, put forth by Trump’s administration.
The administration planned to have the program shut down by March 5, but as of the court’s decision Feb. 26, the approximately 700,000 young people who are currently part of the program can continue to submit renewal applications.
DACA allows children of undocumented immigrants to remain in the country if they were brought here by their parents before the age of 16. Participants must renew their DACA status every two years.
Cal Poly’s Dream Center encourages all DACA eligible students to apply for renewal as soon as possible. The center also refers students to free legal support services in the San Luis Obispo area, made available by the California State University (CSU) system.
“[The] decision was a small, encouraging victory for Dreamers,” Dream Center Coordinator Katherine Zevallos said. “This has brought students some hope to continue pursuing their educational aspirations.”
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White released a statement earlier this week regarding the court’s decision. He said that providing those who are eligible with DACA status creates a clear path for their future, including education and career goals.
“I continue to call on federal policymakers to stand up for our shared American values of inclusivity, opportunity and excellence— regardless of background or birthplace,” White said.
All 23 CSU campuses offer free services to undocumented students and staff in need. The CSU Chancellor’s Office Public Affairs Manager Elizabeth Chapin said although they do not track DACA students, the CSU system serves about 8,000 undocumented students based on waivers.
“[This] is indeed a wise decision for California and our nation,” White said.
Correction: A previous version of this article used the term “illegal immigrants.” It has been changed to say “undocumented immigrants.” The previous version also said the Dream Center provides free legal services for students, which it does not. The mistake has been corrected.