FLAGSTAFF — The Associated Students of Northern Arizona University (ASNAU) Senate will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26 to discuss and vote on a resolution in support of in-state tuition for DREAMers with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
The event is free and open to the public.
Since 2006, students without “legal status” have been prohibited from receiving in-state tuition, financial aid or state-funded scholarships in Arizona, thus effectively precluding DREAMers (young people brought to the U.S. as children without documents) from attending college. DACA, granted by President Obama via Executive Action in 2012, gives approved DREAMers legal presence in the United States, organizers reported in a media release.
Approved individuals have permission to work and to procure Arizona drivers licenses, thus demonstrating their residency. Advocates of the Resolution are calling on ABOR to recognize DACA recipients’ federally granted legal presence, which is in NAU’s, Arizona’s and Flagstaff’s best economic and social interests.
The Faculty Senates of NAU, ASU and UofA have all passed resolutions supporting in-state tuition for DREAMers with DACA. On Tuesday March 10, the Flagstaff City Council passed a resolution urging ABOR (Arizona Board of Regents) to recognize DACA-approved Arizona youth as Arizona state residents for purposes of educational benefits including in-state tuition, financial aid and scholarships.
Advocates for this cause intend to have a large presence of supporters at the meeting (as they have at recent Flagstaff City Council and Arizona Board of Regents meetings), organizers reported.
The coalition of students. represents a wide variety of student organizations (including Associated Students for Women’s Issues, Future Language Teachers of Northern Arizona, MEChA, No More Deaths, Social Work Student Association, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Queer & Ally and Young Democrats). will be present at the ASNAU meeting to encourage the ASNAU Senate to pass a resolution in support of in-state tuition for DREAMERS with DACA.