Tapping Unlimited Potential Encouraging Minorities and Underrepresented Communities to STEM

We STEM supporters are aware of the importance of STEM education and the benefits it brings to Arizona’s economy and that of America and its future.  We strive to invite students to dive into the areas that will bring incredible knowledge and stronger job opportunities for their future. Great efforts and programs have being initiated in our communities but in order to be inclusive and tap all the creativeness and ingenuity available to us, we must allocate efforts to include often unrepresented communities in STEM education.

Women, people with disabilities, African American, Hispanics, and Native Americans do not have the numbers of individuals involved in many STEM fields where we need their visions for the future and contributions.  We understand a successful field is one that is inclusive with opportunities for all.

This is especially critical for Arizona, which is set to become a minority majority state soon where the make-up of the young population, our future labor force, is different than previous generations.

How can we help to incorporate everybody into STEM fields?  Having wonderful statewide programs like the Arizona SciTech Festival, which inspires individuals of all ages and levels to consider and enter STEM fields, is one of the components for success along with the work of our educational institutions, from K-12 all the way to college, providing the instruction and academic rigor needed to succeed.  Researchers of STEM education point out the importance of setting specific outreach programs that target specific underrepresented populations.  Here in Arizona we have great organizations and individuals who dedicate their efforts to share the gospel of STEM to all.

These efforts make the news and make us all proud.  They demonstrate that every student, no matter where she or he is or where he/she comes from, can set their minds to achieving higher goals; and expectations can accomplish anything… with a little help from the community.

DREAMers, DACA Grantees Return to Maricopa County Community Colleges with In-State-Tuition

In what is considered one of the most important milestones for DREAMers in Arizona and across the nation, the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition will be celebrating Monday, January the 7th the return of immigrant youth, DACA grantees, to Maricopa County Community Colleges (MCCCD) with In-State-Tuition. 

This situation comes as a reversal of bad policy on the immigration-education landscape of Arizona and it is a sign of hope for the economic future in the State and the nation, thanks to DACA.

 After the passage of prop.300 and implementation of anti-education, anti-immigrant laws in Arizona, the enrollment of undocumented immigrant youth, DREAMers, to higher education institutions collapsed.   There was no ban in place but the cost of education, which tripled by out-of-state fees, was put out of the reach of immigrant families.

With the announcement by president Obama on June 15^th granting Deferred Action for persons who arrived as children to the USA (DACA), a door was open for those who apply for this process, get a work permit, to request In-State-Tuition at Maricopa Community Colleges. 

Maricopa Community Colleges is the largest Community Colleges System in the nation.

Since 2007, when Arizona’s Prop 300 took effect and the state began to keep track of undocumented students, it has come evident the number of undocumented students attending  state’s universities and community colleges has fallen dramatically. Read this article by journalist Griselda Nevarez.  1,524 students who were attending one of the three public universities in 2007  were not able to prove a legal status. The number of students in this situation had dropped to 13 by the spring 2012 semester.

There were 1,470 students who couldn’t prove a legal status and were attending the state’s community colleges in spring 2007. By 2012 that number had dropped to 882. Most of these students were only taking one or two classes at a time.

“In the past years we saw a collapse  participation of immigrant youth population in community colleges and Universities, in spite of the talent dreamers had demonstrated when they graduate from high schools, being top of the class and valedictorians.  It is an absolute waste of human resources and talent”, said Dulce Matuz, president of the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition. “We are not seeking special treatment; we are only striving for a leveled plain field.  We are taxpayers too and we support education through our taxes, some of us for decades”, said Matuz.

To be granted In-State-Tuition at MCCCD is necessary for the DACA grantees to present the work authorization card (I-766) and another document that demonstrates their residence in Maricopa County.  This is the set of documents that may be presented (scroll down to County Residency).

The move from MCCCD granting In-State-tuitions came, in great part, to the pressure dreamers and advocates had put to MCCCD when all venues for affordable education were closed during the spring of 2011.  Dreamers had been able to access classes with in-state-tuition when taking one or two classes due to a special administrative classification in place for many years back.  ADAC members protested MCCCD and held many private meetings into the reasoning behind closing the last administrative venue for affordable tuition. Read this article on the series of protests.

So far in State-Tuition in Arizona is only attainable at Maricopa County Community Colleges District (MCCCD).  We advocates are encouraging Arizona Board of Regents and other Community Colleges in Arizona to find legal tools and grant IST to DACA grantees.

Top Arizona DREAM Moments of 2012

The end of 2012 is a great time for reflection on the events that changed the lives of approximately 80,000 to 100,000 immigrant youth in the state.  There will be other lists for top moments at national level but these are our Arizona’s best.

1.-DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).  It wasn’t because one day President Obama decided to be nice with the embattled DREAMers.  It was a calculated political move plus the result of DREAMers across the nation pressuring POTUS. The ADAC participated in the Right to DREAM Campaign, protesting in front of ICE’s offices and engaging the White House through social media. Efforts came on different fronts, using different tactics. 96 Law professors across the nation signed a letter to President Obama stating “Yes, You Can” give reprieve from deportation to DREAMers in response to President Obama's  reluctance to use his executive powers to alleviate the  DREAMers' situation . More on the letter to President Obama  here.  Arizona State University Professor Evelyn Cruz was one of the signatories to the letter. This “DREAM Act light” was the most significant victory in the immigrant rights movement in a generation.

2.-In State Tuition at Maricopa County Community Colleges.  One of our biggest victories. Legal Department and authorities at Maricopa County Community Colleges District (MCCCD), one of the largest colleges systems in the nation, were quick to find legal justification to offer In-Sate-Tuition to DACA grantees.  This move was in spite of Jan Brewer’s executive order denying Arizona IDs and Driver’s licenses to DACA grantees.   MCCCD kept the list of documents for in-state-tuition that was in place since the times of Prop. 300 implementation.  Governor Brewer, in an authoritarian move, changed the list of documents for granting Arizona State IDs and Driver’s Licenses eliminating the working authorization (I-766).

The quick and resolved response from MCCCD authorities came thanks to the intense protesting and scrutiny  the previous implementation of out of state tuition policies got since April 2011.  Long story short, we DREAM advocates put pressure on MCCCD in public and many, MANY, private meetings to show our displeasure on the disappearance of all reasonable tuition fees for immigrant youth. Here is an article on the series of protests by journalist Gregory Pratt.
The tuition hike came with subsequent collapse of the enrollment of undocumented students and the near collapse of some programs.

MCCCD was able to turn around the situation, find common sense, courage and offer a hopeful alternative for higher education that will benefit Arizona's future work force.

3.-The Arizona DREAM Act Coalition v Janice Brewer.  In an effort to pander to the GOP mostly white, old extremist base Gevernor Jan Brewer eliminated the work permit given to DACA beneficiaries from MVD’s list of valid documents for Driver’s Licenses and IDs.   Jan did it not for electoral benefits but for future personal economic gains (the afterlife of wagging-finger-at-the-tarmac Governor signing books and juicy speaking engagements). Even more distasteful, she issued her executive order the same day DREAMers celebrated USCIS launching of the DACA process on August the 15^th, 2012.   ACLU Arizona came to the rescue and slapped a lawsuit along with ACLU National, MALDEF and NILC with the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition et al as plaintiffs.  Members of ADAC, among them CADENA, SUFFRAGE, I DREAM, QUIP and others participated defining the lawsuit. The move was highly anticipated. The authoritative action (we call it bullying) against young people found complete silence from GOP figures at local and national level. Here is an article from Terry Greene Sterling on the issue. Now Michigan DREAMers are following our footsteps filing a lawsuit in their state.

4.- No DREAM Deferred-NDD.  With more than 1000 DACA applications submitted through the workshops and countless orientation for DACA applicants, NDD Coalition deserves a spot on the greatest Arizona DREAM moments of 2012. NDD is an all volunteer and free service to young people coordinated  by DREAMers from ADAC with the invaluable professional help of AILA Lawyers plus other partnering community organizations.  Great collaboration and team work in spite of the monetary  limitations.

 5.- Dulce Matuz, One of the 100 More Influential Persons in the World by TIME Magazine.

It was a great recognition of Dulce Matuz’s leadership (an ASU electrical engineer graduate and Carl Hayden Falcon Robotics alumna) but also national recognition of the DREAM Act movement en Arizona.  She is the first to point out the volunteer work and many sacrifices of all the active members of the movement who contribute to her effective leadership. 

Bonus top moments!

GED enrollment for DACA applicants. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals came, for DREAMers who had not completed High School, with an opportunity to engage in education though enrollment on GED programs.  In spite of the many challenges this subgroup confronts it represents hope to young people to attain legal presence, work permit and a platform where they may construct personal educational improvement.  It would benefit individuals, families and the overall community.

Civil Rights Center-Department of Education Federal Complaint Against MCCCD. The tuition hike mentioned on top moment number 2 brought scrutiny from community members and specially Silverio Garcia of the Civil Rights Center.  MCCCD was treating Undocumented Charter High School students like community college students and submitting them to  harsh immigration-education policies. K-12 students are protected from legal status inquiries. CRC opened the door for the Department of Education to intervene.  Ruling is still pending but it was a great experience in advocacy, tools we can use in the future and returning some power to the community. Here is an Arizona Republic article on the issue.

Undocumented Youth on Time Magazine.

 American Citizens in waiting article featured amazing Arizona advocates Erika Andiola and Christian Lira among the national stars line up.  Another signal the DREAM Act movement have reached the notoriety from a little known legislation back in the day I started to advocate. Click for the TIME magazine cover and article here.

Don't Let Them Behind.  465 dollars can be a lot of money for immigrant youth, limiting for some the opportunity to apply for DACA.  Fortunately an anonymous donor contacted Chicanos por la Causa to start a fund  providing the USCIS- DACA application fees for DREAMers in need.  CPLC is reaching out to the community to grow the fund. I have been privileged to participate in the creation of the effort and witnessed DREAMers getting their checks to USCIS for their application. However, there is a lot of need for more funds like this to be created around the country. Start one !  Click here to donate !

Happy New Year 2013!

New GED Test Scheduled for January 2014 and How It Will Affect DACA Applicants

Undocumented youth have confronted many roadblocks in their lives, especially in education.   Negative immigration-education policy and laws meant to deny undocumented students access to higher education gave some an excuse to drop out from high school.  Some, regrettably, did not see the point of graduating from High School after the continued failure of Congress to pass the DREAM Act at the federal level.  High School dropout rates are a problem all over the country which affects Hispanics, minorities and immigrant populations in disproportionate numbers. Bad immigration-education policy only makes things worse.

With the introduction of the process for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the opportunity to enroll into a GED program to qualify for application, GED education experienced a sudden increase on demand. Click here for an article on the demand  for GED instruction.

GED stands for General Education Development. The test is administrated by a division of the American Council on Education.  Click here for a link to their site. The administrators are updating the test to spring testers into advancing their education into college and will convert the official GED test to a computer-based version. The service states that the new test "is no longer an endpoint for adults, but rather a springboard for further education, training, and better paying jobs."

For potential DACA applicants it means GED enrollment, preparation and test taking will need to be done before the end of 2013. Any module taken will not count unless the whole battery of test is completed and certification obtained by then.  If the student had only completed certain modules, he or she will need to start all over to comply with the new test on 2014.   Also new fees will be on effect.

This is what the Arizona Department of Education is posting on its website.

Do Not Harm: DACA Applicants and The Threat of Medical Deportation

Even though Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has provided relief for thousands of DREAMers across the nation apparently putting the fear of deportation away, advocates  were reminded of the fragility of this policy in States like Arizona with a new case post DACA.

Rocio Almanza, a DACA applicant married to an American citizen, got gravely sick 1 day shy of her biometric appointment and started to experience seizures.  Rocio was taken to Banner Dessert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona. A possible brain infection was diagnosed. She was in a medically induced coma for days and when she started to wake up, the hospital was pressuring her husband, Christian Solorio, into a medical deportation.  The hospital suggested the cost of her rehabilitation by a skilled nursing facility was too much for the uninsured young couple and told Christian his only option was to send his wife during the weekend to Mexico. 

Christian Solorio, who had started to fundraise online to pay for the medical care of his wife, was desperately contacting friends and family and thanks to Ileana Merary Salinas got in touch with CADENA, an all volunteer organization member of the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition.

We understood the need for a decisive action to prevent the deportation.  Back in 2007 we sadly experienced the medical deportation and subsequent death of Joe Arvizu.  Read the story here.  He slipped away in front of our eyes back in the days where we were confused about what to do to confront Arizona’s harsh anti-immigration laws. Tragically, an untimely lock-down at Joe’s High School prevented teacher advocates from reaching Joe’s mom before he was sent in an ambulance to Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

There is lack of federal funding to assist undocumented immigrants in medical emergencies but State laws make the situation worse.

In Arizona strict laws prevent the use of public funding by undocumented students. HB 2008,  was signed into law in 2009 as part of the 2010 state budget. This law is a wide-ranging bill intended to verify the immigration status of nearly everyone who comes into contact with state government, including vendors, contractors and employees.

This law affected a wide list of state agencies including Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System the Department of Health Services, etc. and compromised the care of undocumented immigrants (mostly young people) in hospitals in Arizona. Under these circumstances the hospitals suggested and were successful in medically deporting undocumented immigrants.

Thankfully in Rocio Almanza’s case we were contacted and were able to request Lawyer Delia Salvatierra to immediately intervene on a Saturday morning.  We also understood the need to make the case public and call the attention on this horrendous “medical dumping” practice.  Media outlets are interested and will share this story soon.

Deferred action won't completely stop the threat of deportation for young immigrants. Even a patient with legal status could  be in danger of being medically deported. Advocates need to remain vigilant to denounce this immoral practice.  

When DACA and SB1070 Collide

Cesar Valdes, a (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) DACA applicant and active member of the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition, was detained Thursday, November the 15^th, 2012 by a Phoenix Police officer and arrested, following the SB1070 playbook. He was dropping off his younger brother at school that morning.

Cesar was stopped for allegedly driving with an expired license plate and subsequently failing to produce a driver’s license.  He became suspect to be in the country illegally, enough reason in Arizona to be locked up and sent to dreadful 4th Ave. Jail, the realm of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies. He spent that night among hard core criminals.  Later, a fight broke up inside the jail.  Thankfully he was unharmed but big and tall Cesar confessed he was really fearful.

This event brought out reality to immigrant youth, DACA applicants and grantees, who were reminded once more of SB1070 and Governor Jan Brewer’s executive order to deny DACA grantees of an Arizona Driver’s License.  Click here to read the article from the Arizona Republic on the executive order by Governor Brewer.

Cesar stated repeatedly to Phoenix Police Officer he was a DACA applicant and was not subject to deportation anymore.  The police officer went ahead anyway. Cesar spent 22 hrs. at 4^th Ave. Jail, his mug shot taken with the footnote “failure to show AZ driving license, ID “ as an explanation and posted on the Maricopa County Sheriff Office (MCSO) website which shows the public how Joe is “tough on criminals”.

Cesar believes he could have been released a couple of times during the process, one when he was in front of the city judge, who declared being confused by the circumstances.  Finally, Cesar was released upon being transferred to ICE jurisdiction. His arrest and detention exposed bad policy: the diversion of law enforcement resources into a deportation case that proceeds no longer.

Sadly, even DACA grantees (since Arizona will not be granting driver’s licenses) will be safe from arrest and hours of detention. We may see legal challenges in the future due to this attempt to single out beneficiaries of legal presence. But at ADAC we question what the point is in harass, humiliate and put in danger young persons who had entrust our system by bringing forward their personal information through deferred action?

The license plate issue?  It was a mistake of Arizona Motor Vehicle Division which failed to update his information.

Read related article by journalist Griselda Nervarez on VOXXI

The Baker

Today I found Chino. Or Chino found me.
He was neatly dressed with a crisp blue shirt, vest, slacks and shiny black shoes. Polite, assertive and inquisitive. He had all the necessary documentation to demonstrate his presence in the USA since his arrival in a neatly organized binder.  He had done a better job collecting info than most applicants, yet his school records were missing.
He works as a baker all night. Since he came to the USA at age 15 he has been his family's breadwinner. His English is limited and needs to access GED in Spanish classes urgently. Here is one of the few available GED classes in Spanish  in the Phoenix Metro area.. He represents a minority of  DREAM Act youth and for now Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applicants: most potential candidates have gone through the school system and are fluent in English, but not Chino and some few more.
His situation present several challenges.  USCIS produced DACA information in Spanish and this is the link but most of the assumptions is that DACA applicants access the information in English and our volunteer, advocate efforts are focused on English speakers.  We only explain in Spanish for the parents.
In the last 6 months I only heard of 3 cases of immigrant youth that hadn't have instruction in Spanish among the hundreds of young immigrants I come across.  This is not scientific assessment but just  anecdotal.
On cases like Chino's we advocates need to step up to the challenge and provide extra guidance, caring support.
I connected with him through e-mail.  Thankfully he is not illiterate and has basic computer skills. He always ends his e-mails sending me blessings.

I will make sure that, in spite of his limitations, he gets on the right track: GED first, then English lessons, simultaneously DACA and possibly more. I hope he will be willing to follow my advise.