The Democratic takeover of the U.S. House has renewed hope, amid continuing anxiety, for the 200,000 undocumented immigrants living in California who arrived in the United States as children and have been temporarily protected from possible deportation through the program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, popularly known as DACA.
This week, Louis and John discuss the possibility of a deal between President Trump — who has attempted to end DACA — and Congress to establish permanent residency with a path to citizenship for DACA recipients. They speak with EdSource reporter Zaidee Stavely, who has been following the issue, and interview Salvador Cruz-Matus, a senior at CSU San Marcos who dreams of becoming an American citizen with a Ph.D. in plant biology.
Louis and John also review the latest state data on school discipline, which show a continued decline of student suspension rates, particularly for disruptive and defiant behavior. However, suspension rates for more serious offenses, including violent acts and possession of weapons, have not significantly fallen.
For background:
- In limbo, DACA students look to Congress again for help
- Trump’s proposed regulations limiting benefits for immigrants could hurt many US-born children
- Proposed ‘public charge’ rule change stirs confusion over green card eligibility – podcast on PRI’s The World by Zaidee Stavely
- Understanding DACA and education in California: a quick guide
- Suspensions in California schools drop, but trouble spots remain