President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Sept. 5, rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which shields 800,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation.

An estimated 1,000 Sacramento State students are undocumented, according to the Dreamer Resource Center. The University does not collect information on DACA recipients, but based on the eligibility criteria, most of those students would qualify.

“DACA has been vital in allowing young people who came to the United States without documentation to pursue the life they deserve,” says Sac State President Robert S. Nelsen. “In the wake of this decision, we must continue to protect these valuable members of our Hornet family. We must have the courage and integrity to support our fellow Hornets during this frightening, turbulent, and uncertain time.”

Nelsen was one of nearly 650 university and college presidents who recently signed a statement in support of DACA and undocumented immigrant students, also known as Dreamers. 

The Department of Homeland Security will accept no new applications from undocumented immigrants, and current DACA enrollees may continue working until their permits expire. Those with a permit expiring before March 5, 2018, may apply for a two-year renewal before Oct. 5, 2017.

Sac State students affected by the ruling are encouraged to seek help and support from the following campus resources:

California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office also is providing useful information:

Sac State is is holding two events this week to support the university's undocumented students:

Follow-Up DACA debriefing and Q&A: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, in the CAMP Lounge, River Front Center, room 1027. On hand to help undocumented students move forward will be the Dreamer Resource Center, Christopher Sanchez, from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), and Opening Doors attorneys. 

Dreamer Resource Center Open House: 3 - 4:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, in the CAMP Lounge, River Front Center, room 1027. This is an opportunity for undocumented students and students of mixed-status families, as well as staff, faculty, friends, families and allies to connect to campus resources, meet certified Dreamer Allies, and make new friends. Organizers say the environment will be safe and inclusive.

“America is home to hundreds of thousands of these young people," Nelsen says. "Their lives should not be destroyed to make a political statement.

“DACA has been successfully defended repeatedly by the federal government as a constitutionally sound and lawful program. DACA makes sense for our country, and it makes sense for the well-being of the undocumented youth for whom America is home.”

As the country awaits possible work by Congress to replace DACA, Nelsen encourages undocumented students to continue to attend class and report to work.

The university urges any member of the campus community – students, faculty, or staff – who is stopped by an official and asked to present information or documentation to immediately contact the Sacramento State Police Department at (916) 278-6000 or to dial 911 on any campus phone.

The Chancellor’s Office said that DACA's repeal will have no effect on enrollment and tuition policies. However, DACA students who receive private funding are urged to check with their campus financial aid office.

"Our mission to provide excellent educational opportunities to all Californians shall not waver," says CSU Chancellor Timothy White. "We will continue to vigorously pursue the CSU’s commitment to advance and extend knowledge, learning and culture; to provide opportunities for individuals to develop intellectually, personally and professionally; and to prepare educated and responsible alumni who are ready and able to contribute to California’s culture and economy.

"To that end, I will continue to advocate for our current and future students and employees who are affected by this unfortunate development."

David M. Lanier, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary, this week confirmed that ending DACA doesn't require employers to re-verify work authorization documents:

“Any action or attempt by employers to re-investigate or re-verify work authorization documents in order to retaliate against any immigrant worker is unlawful in California," Lanier said. “The Labor and Workforce Development Agency will continue to work in partnership with community leaders, worker advocates and employers to make sure DACA recipients and immigrant workers know they are covered by our state’s workplace protections.”

DACA recipients with work-related questions or complaints may contact the Department of Industrial Relations’ Call Center at (844) 522-6734. 

Other resources for affected students are available through CSU. – Dixie Reid