Aliento Leaders Attend MCCCDs Board Meeting...
Tempe, AZ— A week ago, a judge in the Arizona Court of Appeals crushed the dreams of more than 28,000 young immigrants in the state of Arizona.
Just days after the fifth anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that shields nearly 800,000 immigrants from deportation, Judge Kenton Jones ruled that the thousands of undocumented immigrants pursuing higher education at public universities across the state no longer qualify for in-state tuition. This will mean skyrocketed tuition costs for Arizona DACA recipients pursuing degrees - making higher education unaffordable for many. It’s in the best interest of all Arizonans that our state’s DACA recipients have the opportunity to earn a degree and give back to the state and country they call home.
Today, Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) will be deciding whether to appeal or not appeal the court’s decision regarding in-state tuition. Aliento leaders, students, educators, and members of the community come together to thank MCCCD for providing in-state tuition for DACA students and to ask them to be courageous again and appeal so many students can achieve their dream of higher education.
Ezequiel Santos, a leader in Aliento and Mesa Undocumented Students Thriving and a Mesa Community College Student states, “I want to thank MCCCD for opening the doors of education for young people like me. I am asking MCCCD to please leave this door open for me. MCCCD is our only hope, since stepping in the U.S. at the age of 3 when my family made the decision to migrate to Arizona to provide for our family and to contribute to Arizona and the U.S. many doors have closed, but we keep on knocking on many more. Please do not close your doors to us now. Please appeal this decision and help protect my dream of getting an higher education.”
Reyna Montoya, founder and executive director says, “MCCCD has shown bravery in the past. Because of their leadership more than 2,000 students are pursuing their dream of higher education at our community colleges. Now more than ever we need them to continue to be champions and appeal this heartless decision that not only hurts our students, but hurts our economy, and our the present and future of our beloved state of Arizona.”
What: Students, families, educators, and community leaders attend Maricopa County Community College Board Meeting to ask them to appeal the court decision on in-state tuition. Speakers will be available for questions right after the board meeting (at 8pm).
When: Tuesday, June 27th at 6:30pm.
Where: 2411 W. 14th St. Tempe AZ, 85281
Who: Aliento, an undocumented and youth-led organization organization committed to the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status.