On​ ​Oct. 23.​​ IVCC​ made​ ​​a stand​ for​​ students​ ​who​​ are​ ​dealing​ ​with ​ongoing​ issues ​​in ​the DACA​ ​program.​ ​

The​ ​president​ ​of the ​American​​ ​Association​ of​ Community Colleges sent a letter addressed to members of the United States Congress on behalf of a​ ​group​​ of​​ ​community​ ​colleges, including 28 from Illinois.

The letter begins by stating on behalf of the colleges that “each and every community college is dedicated to the proposition that accessible, high-quality college education should be available to all those who aspire to it.

“The President’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has created turmoil and anxiety on community college campuses across the country. The President’s action gives Congress the enormous responsibility of acting quickly and definitively to ensure that DACA covered students can continue to concentrate on their studies without fear of deportation or other disruptions. Now is the time to enact the Dream Act, or something similar, to help thousands of DACA recipients pursue and achieve their dreams of a higher education.”

The letter continues by reminding lawmakers that these “Dreamers” are human. It states, “For many DACA recipients, the U.S. has been the only place they’ve ever called home. They must meet stringent requirements to qualify for the program. With the DACA work authorization, recipients are making enormous economic, social, and civic contributions. They should be encouraged to stay in our country, not face deportation.”

Lastly, the letter states that, “As leaders in our local communities, community colleges hope that a bipartisan solution on this compelling issue can be reached quickly. We stand ready to provide any support needed to achieve this. Our students deserve nothing less.” IVCC agrees they will stand and support this issue if that’s what it takes to resolve it.

IVCC President. Jerry Corcoran stated, “Tearing families apart without a path to citizenship seems unconscionable in my world.

“As a community college advocate and long-time IVCC employee, I often reference our core values when talking about how we should treat each other.”

The current options for dreamers within the DACA program fall short of these core values.

These values can be found displayed around the school in various places, and can also be read in the front of the school student planner: they are responsibility, caring, honesty, fairness, and respect.

This is why the school signed onto the letter, along with other colleges to take action in the fight to protect people who deserve the protection.

Hopefully this action will help guide the process to ensure the “Dreamers” are well protected and can continue to pursue their educational goals as well.

“Dreamers” are just as they sound. These people are having to work much harder than someone who has unaltered freedom and an easier life.

This can be witnessed even in the college’s Financial Aid office. According to the Financial Aid office, students without “legal papers” are able to file the FAFSA, but cannot receive federal or state aid. This is not the college’s fault, but an unfair creation of law. There are so many unfair laws that are in action currently, and it is going to take stands like this in order to create a more equal ground for all human beings.