Rally highlights concerns of undocumented students
Students and faculty pledged their support for undocumented students and for a law to replace the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at a rally Wednesday at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.
“This is a personal issue for me,” OSU-OKC President Natalie Shirley said. “It impacts our students, families and alumni.”
DACA temporarily eliminates the possibility of deportation for many immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. On Sept. 5, the Trump administration announced the program would end in six months.
Shirley said 17.5 percent of the OSU-OKC student body self-identifies as Hispanic. “If they are not directly affected by DACA, they know someone who is,” she said.
They are seeking degrees in health care, business and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) — “degrees our state desperately needs,” said Shirley, who also serves as Oklahoma’s secretary of education and workforce development.
“These student aren’t just dreamers, they are achievers,” she said.
Dreamers is the name given to the more than 700,000 individuals enrolled in the program.
“I love all my dreamer students,” said Steven Collins, associate professor of political science, who talks about the American dream in his government classes. “I want us all today to focus on a dream — and that’s an America that is all-inclusive.”
Collins urged skeptics to shake the hand of dreamers, talk to them and ask them about their goals.
Bipartisan legislation is needed to allow these young people to continue pursuing an education, working and serving in the military, Shirley said. Without it, 30,000 people will be deported monthly beginning in March, many to countries they left as infants. Collins said the situation has put students in limbo. They are unsure if they should enroll for the spring semester.
Danya Rojas, 19, is one of those students. She wants to work in public service and use her bilingual skills to help others. She worries what will happen if she no longer can work, pay for her car and attend college.
Pursuing a good education and career is the most important thing and losing that opportunity “terrifies me the most,” said Rojas, who was brought to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 1.
“This is what I consider my home. I grew up in Oklahoma and I’m very proud of living here,” she said.
The rally was sponsored by the student organizations Aspire Higher and Hispanic Student Association.
Jose Rubio, president of Aspire Higher, said his focus is on helping undocumented students to know their rights and to find scholarships, since they cannot apply for federal financial aid. Rubio, who is undocumented, is majoring in business and nonprofit management. He wants to earn a bachelor’s degree after graduating from OSUOKC.
Jessica Vazquez, a community organizer with DREAM Act Oklahoma, challenged the students to take action by telling their stories and being relentless.
“I know you’re scared and I know it’s hard,” said Vazquez, who is among the first group who will lose status in March. “I refuse to do nothing, and so should you.”