Students Meet with Lawmakers in Push for DACA Protection

Five Dominican University students were among a contingent of college students from across the country who advocated in Washington, D.C., last fall for Congressional action to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Organized by the bipartisan political organization FWD.us, the “fly-in,” held Nov. 15-17 at Capitol Hill, drew undocumented students from around the country urging the Senate to pass federal legislation that will legalize protections for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children.

Dominican students spoke formally and informally with leaders like U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Congressmen Jésus "Chuy" Garcia and Brad Schneider of Illinois, and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. On the Senate floor, Durbin even shared the personal story of first year student Eddie Rivera.

“Never in my whole life did I imagine walking into the Capitol Building and speaking with representatives face-to-face, taking in the advice they gave,” Rivera said. “And I never would have imagined someone in a high office speaking about me! It makes me feel so proud about where I am now and where I want to go next.”

“If we didn’t have DACA, most of us wouldn’t be able to study or work in the places we call home,” said fellow freshman Tatiana Vasquez, who has lived in the U.S. since she was 11 months old.

While FWD.us was pushing Congress to protect DACA recipients’ ability to legally live and work in the United States by the end of 2022, this did not occur.

A Sanctuary Campus since 2017, Dominican University offers support and resources to undocumented students and their families.

Last year, the university expanded its partnership with TheDream.US to accept additional out-of-state, undocumented students who have received scholarships from the organization.