Over 120 Arizona Students, Educators, and Allies of Dreamers Arrived at the Arizona Capitol to Share their Stories and Contributions with Legislators

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, more than 120 students from nine Arizona schools took part in Education Day at the State Capitol, continuing the momentum from the previous event, which gathered 125 participants from 12 schools. Altogether, more than 240 students from 21 schools across the state educated 53 out of the 90 state legislators and participated in 75 conversations.

Together, they engaged directly with elected officials on critical issues impacting their education. These students courageously shared their personal stories, emphasizing the need to support Dreamers and children of non-citizen immigrants in pursuing higher education and contributing to Arizona’s economy.

Arizona is home to 500,000 mixed-status families, with 140,000 K-12 students belonging to these households. More than 175,000 undocumented Arizonans have lived in the state for over a decade. Time and again, the young people who participate in Aliento events express their determination to make their voices heard by those in power. They worry about their parents’ well-being, their peers’ ability to access education, and the broader community’s future.

This year’s Education Days focused on raising awareness of the mental and emotional toll recent executive orders have placed on students—particularly the policy allowing ICE agents to operate in or around schools. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has also voiced concerns about this new ICE-in-schools directive's impact on students' attendance and academic learning.

José Patiño, Aliento’s Vice President of Education and External Affairs, stated:

“Aliento translates to ‘breath,’ but when you give Aliento to someone, it means offering words of encouragement. Now more than ever, Aliento is ready to encourage and support our Dreamers and mixed-status students. I never thought I’d see a day when schools—where we are taught from a young age to be a place for learning and growth—would be under threat by ICE agents rounding up students or their parents.

Today, hundreds of Arizona students shared their fears and hopes for the future. Schools have always been, and should always remain to be places where all students feel welcomed, supported, and cared for.”