IVC to have DACA-related events this week

Community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties embarked on an “Undocumented Students Week of Action” that started Monday to express support for Dreamers and urge Congress to create a pathway to citizenship.

Dreamers are those students protected from deportation due to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, program.

Students at Imperial Valley College on Monday were encouraged to wear their favorite T-shirt, button or sticker showing their support for undocumented students and take photos for social media (hashtags for photos are #UndocumentedStudentActionWeek and #CCCforDACA), with a voter registration drive to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in IVC’s College Center.

Also, there will be a screening of the documentary “American-DREAMers” at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday in the College Center, and students will participate in Exploring Undocumented Narrative Through Art with paintings on canvas from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday.

“DACA recipients are some of our hardest working and brightest students, and it is our duty to advocate on their behalf,” said San Diego Mesa College President Pamela Luster, president of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association. “Clearly, these deserving students who came to the U.S. as children, who have not been convicted of any crimes and who are earnestly seeking an education to improve their lives, are tremendous assets to our community. Congress and the president need to act now to support these students so that they no longer live in fear.”

California is home to more than 220,000 residents currently protected through the DACA program.

The California Community Colleges Board of Governors declared this week Undocumented Students Week of Action when it met Sept. 17 at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.

The Week of Action is a statewide, student-led advocacy campaign that includes providing support and community resources to undocumented students.