Trump’s dismantling of DACA was further opposed by the CCCCD with DACA Advocacy week, a call to action for faculty and students to stand up for DACA and undocumented students.

California Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley sent a memo faculty and staff urging them to contact their representatives and urge them to pass a resolution in support of DACA.

Oakley writes “my office has been working with the Community College League of California, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, and the Student Senate of California Community Colleges to encourage local advocacy in support of DACA and the over 200,000 young people in California impacted by the decision to rescind this program.”

Also heavily involved in DACA Advocacy Week was Congressman Mark DeSaulnier who issued a statement condemning President Trump’s rescinding of the executive order. DeSaulnier said in a statement, “president Trump’s decision to end DACA is cowardly, heartless and irresponsible.

DeSaulnier condemned Trump’s “mixed messages,” as well as the fear his actions have instilled in DACA recipients.

LMC student Nathalay Borges was similarly supportive of DACA and undocumented individuals. Borges championed DACA citing the requirement for a lack of a criminal record as a counterpoint to those who call them criminals

“They are not criminals,” said Borges who also described her experience with DACA recipients, “I have friends that came here when they were 3, some of them know this country and its history better than most U.S. citizens.”

Borges also asserted that DACA is not simply a ‘Mexican’ bill, “It’s not just Mexico,” said Borges citing Venezuela and Honduras as well as the large number of undocumented Asian immigrants who benefit from the bill.

DACA week not only encourages discourse, but is also a call to action to contact local representatives urging them to replace DACA with similar legislation. 

Puente club coordinator Stacey Miller explained one way that students can help, “as part of DACA Advocacy Week, and the ongoing push to bring DACA legislation forward, DeSaulnier is collecting stories of students impacted by the DACA repeal, if you or your family have been impacted by the repeal of DACA, please consider putting your story in writing.”

DeSaulnier is collecting these stories and presenting them as a package to show the good that DACA has done and to urge lawmakers to reinstate it or replace it with something similar.

Miller will be collecting stories through the end of October. If you have a story of any length and want to share it, email it to [email protected]. Your writing must include your first name, last initial, and the city where you live. No other specific identification is necessary. Any questions can be directed to Miller in her office at CC2-239.[