DACA Faces Challenge

The recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is illegal. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, to which the College belongs, is working to push for Congressional action protecting Dreamers and those who may have been unjustly locked out of DACA. The Alliance issued a statement calling on Congress to protect the over 600,000 people currently with DACA status. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provides a frequently asked questions list, containing additional information that can guide anyone who finds themselves with questions about how this ruling may impact their current status and options. 

Montgomery College currently has over 80 DACA students enrolled. Those with DACA status can keep it for the moment, but new applications are not being processed. 

DACA Info Session - On YouTube

Thank you for joining us during our recent DACA Info Session. We appreciate your patience in waiting for the Spanish version of this program. If you want to watch the program again, click here: https://youtu.be/_aQ09vYmn1g

DACA Info Session: Everything you need to know If you came to the United States as a child without legal immigration status or your immigration status has since expired, you may qualify for DACA. The prog... youtu.be

 

 

To watch it in Spanish, look out for the broadcast on Monday 4/26 at 3 PM on http://bit.ly/mcl-daca-info-live-e and on YouTube.

The program will also be available to watch on the following pages:  Generación Latina, MCPS en Españoly Mi Escuela es Su Escuela.

 

For resources for undocumented students at MC, visit https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/undocumented-students

 

UMD Residency Questions

Students with Questions About UM College Park Residency Classifications (In-State or Out-of-State)

UM asks students to contact Undergraduate Admissions with questions about their residency (in-state or out-of-state) classification:

Newly Admitted Undergraduate Students

Newly admitted undergraduate students seeking a review of their initial residency determination are to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 301-314-8385 or email oua-residency@umd.edu.

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Montgomery College suggestions:

1.     Before you call UM, it may be helpful to review UM’s Residency Reclassification Policy page:  https://www.registrar.umd.edu/Residency/resreclasspolicy.html

2.     This is UM’s Residency Reclassification PROCEDURES page.  https://www.registrar.umd.edu/resreclass.html. 

This page also has links for DACA and for Maryland Dream Act questions.

It includes a SAMPLE form used request a review of Residency Classification:  https://registrar.umd.edu/Residency/Residency%20Petition%20Effective%20Winter%202021.pdf   
DO NOT FILL OUT THIS FORM; it is a SAMPLE form used for Winter 2021 students; an updated but similar form may be required for Fall 2021 classification questions.  
See what types of documentation may be required in the reclassification process, but DO NOT work on documentation until you have specific instructions from UM regarding YOUR situation for Fall 2021.

3.    Follow the instructions that you receive from UM Office of Undergraduate Admissions when you call or e-mail them. 

Submitted by Anne Schleicher, Online MC Transfer Counselor

Dreamers and Other Undocumented Students Presentation

 Attached, please find the PowerPoint on Dreamers and Other Undocumented Students presented at today’s discipline meeting.

On behalf of the International Counseling Team.

Dreamers Applying for Maryland State Aid

The State of Maryland has made some financial aid available for DREAMers and DACA students, which include the most recent Maryland Community College Scholarship.  

Dreamers and DACA are students who were brought to the US without legal documentation as children, but since have qualified for special programs which allow them to stay in the US legally.  For more information:

https://www.lawlogix.com/what-is-the-dream-act-and-who-are-dreamers/

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca

Support Services for DACA Students

* Those whose DACA will expire sometime before March 2018 need to file an extension NOW, before October 5, 2017.

______________________

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE

Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

September 15, 2017

MEMORANDUM

To:                   Montgomery College Students

From:               Dr. Monica R.M. Brown, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

Subject:            Support Services for DACA students

As you may have read in the news or in Dr. Pollard’s message to the College community, the federal government announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will end next year Many of our students have DACA status, and we hope Congress will act swiftly to enact a permanent solution for all individuals who came to this country as a child. I know this is a difficult time and your concerns might make it hard for you to study and learn. It is our mission as an institution and a division to support you, and I want to make you aware of resources at the College and in the community that you may find helpful.

I have DACA status. What do I do now?

Current DACA recipients will be permitted to retain both the period of deferred action and their employment authorization documents (EADs) until they expire. Some basic information about deadlines is available at the Department of Homeland Security:

·         On an individual, case-by-case basis, properly filed pending DACA requests received as of September 5, 2017 will be considered

·         If your DACA status is scheduled to expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, you must apply for renewal by October 5, 2017.

·         If your DACA status will expire after March 5, 2018, you retain your status until its expiration

My DACA status made me eligible for county or state tuition rates.  Will that change?

Your tuition rate will not change if your DACA status has not expired. We strongly encourage you to complete the Maryland Dream Act process described at www.montgomerycollege.edu/marylanddream to maintain county or state tuition rates if your DACA status expires. This will also help you maintain lower tuition rates when you transfer to a Maryland college or university. The termination of the DACA program does not affect the Maryland Dream Act regarding tuition rates, because it is a Maryland state law.

Will the College share my DACA status with anyone?

The College protects the confidentiality of all student information and follows the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable laws.

On Campus Resources

·         Enrollment Services Specialists are available at each campus to assist students with questions about their tuition rates and the Maryland Dream Act process.

·         Counselors are available at each campus if you would like to talk and process any emotions that you may be experiencing during this time.

Off-Campus/Community Resources

·         Montgomery County residents are encouraged to contact MC311 (dial 311 by phone) if they are in need of legal resources or other support services.

·         For legal advice, this link to community resources in the State of Maryland may be of assistance.

·         The Intercultural Counseling Connection also has a variety of resources for refugees and immigrants in Montgomery County and throughout the State of Maryland.

·         CASA de Maryland is hosting a series of DACA renewal clinics between now and October 5^th. http://wearecasa.org/events/category/featured/

The Student Senate at the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus will be hosting an open community conversation on Monday, September 18th from 4 – 6 p.m. The conversation will take place in the Cultural Arts Center, Theatre 1. Additional forums on each campus to answer questions about your DACA status and college enrollment and to assist students with Maryland Dream Act and other paperwork will be held. Dates and times will be announced in all College media.

The faculty and staff in the Student Affairs Division are here to assist and support you should you encounter any challenges or have questions related to this change. Please call 240-567-5000 or visit a Welcome Center on campus to be directed to the most appropriate College resource.