Metropolitan State University of Denver has long supported immigrant students, establishing the state’s first campus Immigrant Services Program in 1990. MSU Denver also became a leading public advocate for Dreamers — undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children — when the University became one of the first in the nation to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students in 2012, without a state mandate.
After that, MSU Denver led efforts to pass Colorado’s 2013 ASSET Bill, allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at other colleges and universities in the state. In recent years, the University successfully advocated for in-state financial aid for Dreamers; for removing professional-licensure barriers for undocumented workers; and for expanding access to college through ASSET revisions.
Now, federal court rulings have foreshadowed the end of the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides deportation protections and work authorization for more than 600,000 DACA recipients. MSU Denver is ramping up its longstanding efforts to support Dreamers by offering resources and educational opportunities and renewing calls for congressional action.
Resources
MSU Denver’s Dreamer Zone website curates important information and resources for undocumented students, while UndocuHub provides community resources for undocumented immigrants. UndocuHub is a grant-funded collaboration among MSU Denver, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center.
Immigrant Services is also supporting the INSPiRE Dreamer Day and Educator Summit on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The tri-institutional event will include events for undocumented students on topics such as funding college and navigating resources. It also will have workshops for Colorado educators and allies on creating safe learning spaces for undocumented students, post-college options and more.
MSU Denver’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is also planning teach-in events on campus to educate faculty, staff and students about issues facing Dreamers. More information will be shared in the Early Bird soon.
University advocacy
President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has been an outspoken advocate for undocumented immigrants, rallying higher-education leaders to join appeals to Congress to pass legislation protecting Dreamers in 2020, 2021 and again last week. A letter was sent to Colorado’s congressional delegation Oct. 19 with the signatures of all of the public-college and -university leaders in the state.
“The only way to ensure (that) the dissolution of DACA does not cause devastating implications for our society and economy is for Congress to pass legislation creating permanent legal status for Dreamers,” the letter said.
MSU Denver trustees also wrote a letter of support, which says, “Congress needs to solve this through legislation that legalizes the presence of Dreamers in this country and provides a path to citizenship. Act now before this Congress adjourns sine die.” The 117th Congress ends Jan. 3.
How you can give support
- Join MSU Denver Champions: If you are interested in advocacy, join the MSU Denver Champions program to learn more about contacting public officials to advocate for MSU Denver and issues aligned with the University’s mission.
- Give to MSU Denver’s Dreamer Fund: If you are able to give, the University has established a Dreamer Emergency Fund to provide financial assistance for medical emergencies, dependent care, DACA renewal fees and more. The fund has helped more than 150 Dreamer students since it was established in 2020. Anyone can give directly to the fund at any time or participate in the University’s Socktober drive until Oct. 31, in which you are given the option to designate gifts to the Dreamer Emergency Fund while getting a pair of Roadrunner socks and providing a pair of socks to a student in need.
- Call or write your representative today!
- Share your support: On your social platforms, uplift this decision and the need for Congress to pass permanent protections for Dreamers this year.
- Participate in upcoming events: Keep an eye on the Early Bird, Champions and Immigrant Services for more info.