Alec Schaffer
aschaff3@uwyo.edu
University of Wyoming students shared their stories and struggles as Latino students working with the U.S. immigration system at an event sponsored by the Albany County Democratic party.
The main focus of the event was to examine the legal, political and humanitarian issues of the immigration and citizenship system in the U.S.
In addition to a panel of Latino students the event also featured UW Associate Professor of Chicano Studies Dr. Cecelia Aragon, as well as Professor of Law and Director of Center for International Human Rights Law and Advocacy Suzan Pritchett.
“Immigration is a human rights issue,” Aragon said. “Education is a human right.”
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, is an executive order passed by President Barack Obama that protects childhood arrival immigrants for being actively deported. However, DACA does not give any immigration status, this means no green card and no lawful status. DACA does allow for a working status and provides child arrivals with a temporary Social Security number that has to be renewed every two years.
However, these children are not able to collect any benefits from social security despite paying into it, Pritchett said.
The lack of a permanent social security number and citizenship prevent DACA students from being able to apply for federal scholarships and grants. DACA also disqualifies them from being able to receive Hathaway even if they graduated from a Wyoming high school, Aragon said.
“I do not qualify for any financial aid,” Diana Loza, UW DACA student majoring in business management, said. “It’s hard to pay for college, coming here was a struggle cause I didn’t get Hathaway or anything like that, so my parents are paying all my tuition right now.”
The wording for Hathaway is misleading. The state needs to change it so DACA students who graduated from Wyoming high schools can receive Hathaway, Argon said
“We are Wyomingites,” Loza said. “No one can tell me otherwise, because I know I am.”
DACA status also prevents one from being able to work federal jobs. This prevents Bianca Infanta, UW student in international studies and Spanish, from working with the forest service in her hometown of Teton County.
The only office in Wyoming for immigrants to register for DACA status is in Casper, which can pose difficulties for some who lack the means to travel, Pritchett said.
DACA is an executive order that promises not to actively deport childhood arrivals. The next president has the possibility to undo the executive order, which could deport some of these students, Pritchett, said.
“It’s scary to say you’re a DACA student, especially in Wyoming,” Sandra Loza, UW religious studies major, said.
