What is DACA? How does it impact our students? What are DACA recipients opportunities for employability? This presentation looks to explore these topics in the current legal and political climate.

1. Bridges to Success: Ensuring the
Success of Undocumented Students
in Your Program and onto
Employability
Rae Brendecke + Liliana Diaz

2. TOPICS
Introductions
Quick Facts about DACA
What is DACA? What is ASSET?
DACA/ASSET & Federal Financial Aid
A Student’s Perspective
Implications for Employment
What you can do!

3. Introductions
Who are you?
What department are you from?
What do you want/need to know about DACA?

4. Quick Facts:
86% of 643,000 applications accepted have been
approved as of March 2014
• As of 2015, 24,535 individuals applied for initial or renewal
of DACA status in CO. 20,425 were accepted.
• If denied DACA, individuals cannot appeal.
77% are Mexican, 4% Salvadoran, 3% or less from
other countries

5. What is Deferred Action?
On June 15, 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is established under
the executive branch’s enforcement discretion authority (discretionary procedure).
DACA is NOT a law.
It grants DACA individuals:
1. Protection from deportation for students ONLY
2. Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
3. Ability to apply for SSN
What it doesn’t provide:
1. NO government benefits (i.e. health care, federal financial aid)
2. Pathway to citizenship
In Colorado, DACA students can receive a driver’s license.

6. Who can qualify for DACA?
1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
3. Continuous residence in the U.S. since June 15, 2007, up to present time;
4. Were physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for
consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5. Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15,
2012;
6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have
obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or other equivalent State-authorized exam
in the U.S., or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed forces of the U.S. and
7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and o
not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
8. $465 application fee

7. Colorado Specific - ASSET
Colorado ASSET will allow eligible students to pay in-state tuition at Colorado’s public colleges
and universities as long as they meet the certain qualifications. We have a chart that explains
the qualifications or you can find out by answering a few questions.
A Colorado student can qualify if they:
1. Have attended a Colorado high school for three years right before they graduated
2. Been admitted to a participating college within twelve months of graduating high school
3. Signed an affidavit, if not legally present in the U.S., saying that they are currently seeking or
will seek legal status as soon as they are eligible.

8. Students who qualify for ASSET do not
automatically qualify for DACA, and vice versa.
A student may qualify for one but not the other,
qualify for both, or qualify for neither.
DACA vs. ASSET

9. DACA/ASSET & Federal Financial Aid
DACA/ASSET/undocumented students do
NOT qualify for any federal financial aid.
ACC institutional scholarships are available to all students regardless of
immigration status, but as a policy ACC does require a FAFSA to be filed.
A DACA/ASSET or undocumented student can fill out a FAFSA, even if they will not
receive any benefits.
Payment plans are crucial!

10. A Student’s Experience

11. Implications for Employment
Students with DACA receive a Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• EAD (I-766) qualifies as a suitable document under “List A” of an I-9 form, don’t need to
provide other forms of identification.
• Students may need help navigating certification/licensing processes – not all licenses are
open to DACA recipients.
• DACA recipients will not be eligible to work for any position requiring U.S. citizenship –
which is typically required for work with the Federal government or for programs receiving
Federal funding.
DACA recipients are qualified to apply for a Social Security Number. This can help
them:
• Help obtain a state ID card and be an alternate form of ID.
• Make it possible for an employer to do a background check, which may be necessary for
certain jobs. (This can also be done with the EAD.)
• Make it easier to apply for loans, rent an apartment.
• Makes it possible to properly complete a W-4 federal tax withholding form.
Things to keep in mind:
• Background Checks, Credit Check, MVR, Healthcare Insurance

12. Identification Documents
Employment Authorization Card
(EAD)
CO Driver’s license for DACA recipients

13. What can you do?
• Avoid discriminatory practice or language
• U.S. Citizens, International Students, DACA and ASSET students should all
be eligible for ACC programs. However their status can impact whether or
not they are eligible for employment/licensure in the field.
• Create a safe space and know your campus resources
• DACA does not necessarily allow freedom to travel, access to healthcare,
and is only good for 2 years.
• Be aware of practices (or events) of your program. Do they
require students to have certain forms of identification?
• This may include: background checks, professional licenses, trips off
campus, internships

14. “Results from a Nationwide Survey of DACA Recipients Illustrate the Program’s Impact”, www.americanprogress.org

15. “Results from a Nationwide Survey of DACA Recipients Illustrate the Program’s Impact”, www.americanprogress.org

16. “Results from a Nationwide Survey of DACA Recipients Illustrate the Program’s Impact”, www.americanprogress.org

17. Questions?

18. 1. US Citizenship and Immigration Services
• “Frequently Asked Questions”
• “Reports and Studies”
2. “5 facts about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program” - Pew Research
3. United We Dream - http://unitedwedream.org/
4. Colorado ASSET - http://www.ciccoloradoasset.org/item/117-who-qualifies
5. National Immigration Law Center - www.nilc.org
6. “Results from a Nationwide Survey of DACA Recipients Illustrate the Program’s Impact”,
www.americanprogress.org
References and Resources

19. Contact
Rae Brendecke
Career Counselor, Career and Transfer Center
rae.brendecke@arapahoe.edu, M2015, x5705
Liliana Diaz
Senior Student Recruitment Specialist, Student Recruitment and Outreach
liliana.diaz@arapahoe.edu, M , x5