Foothill-De Anza Trustees Approve Measures Supporting Undocumented Students

CUPERTINO, CA -- The Foothill-De Anza Community College District's Board of Trustees has approved two resolutions affirming the District’s support for undocumented students and calling for extension of a program allowing some undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.

Resolution 2016-44 in support of undocumented students and affirming the privacy of student records was unanimously passed Dec. 14. It asserts that the District won't cooperate in efforts to create a registry of targeted groups, like undocumented students, and will maintain the privacy of student records.

Also passed was Resolution 2016-43, in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. It reiterates a message in a recent letter signed by the chief executives of the California Community Colleges, California State University and the University of California urging President-elect Donald Trump to continue the DACA.

DACA, which was established in 2012 through executive actions by President Barack Obama, makes it possible for undocumented young people who came to the United States as children to be temporarily in the country legally and work here legally. It defers removal of individuals who have applied for and been granted deferred action on case-by-case basis, but doesn’t confer legal status.

President-elect Trump has said that he would rescind President Obama’s executive actions establishing the DACA program.

Under existing board policy, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District doesn’t release any personally identifiable student information, including any data related to immigration status, unless authorized by the student or required by law.

The resolution in support of undocumented students goes further, stating that the district “will not detain, question, or arrest any individual solely on the basis of undocumented immigration status, suspected or confirmed, except as required by judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order.”

Further, it says, “The district shall not cooperate with any federal or state effort to create a registry of individuals based on any legally protected characteristics, such as religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. No confidential student records will be released without a judicial warrant, subpoena or court order, unless authorized by the student or required by law.”

De Anza College student Trustee Elias Kamal called the resolutions a good start and said he's looking forward to the continuing follow-through actions by faculty, staff and administrators in support of undocumented students.

Image via Foothill-DeAnza