Rachel Mcclurg
Lantern Staff
With the recent talk about what the Trump administration and Congress would like to do about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), some concerns have been made known around the country. These changes could even affect as many as 76 Butler students, according to Associate Vice President of Student Services Jessica Ohman.
“We would be unable to enroll undocumented students and help them reach their educational and career goals,” Ohman said. “All students bring diversity to the campus, and as an institution, we would miss out of the perspectives of these students.”
Even students currently enrolled at Butler have shown some worry about what could come out of Congress’s decision. Fulfilling their dreams by going to college and starting their career could be taken away from them in a matter of months.
“We have had several [students] come to visit with advisors with their concern,” Ohman said.
There are many opinions on how DACA should be dealt with. Some think it should be gotten rid of completely, while others are pushing for a compromise that could make everyone happy.
“Since it’s not their fault that they are here, because their parents brought them over, I don’t think our first reaction should be to make them uproot their lives and just kick them out,” freshman Brooklyn Barclay said. “That being said, they are still here illegally, so I think that if they are taking conscious and active steps toward citizenship and if they achieve citizenship by a certain date, then they should be allowed to stay.”
This is a very important, yet difficult, decision for the Trump administration and Congress. The effect that it could have on college students alone in the United States is significant. This could mean that those now in their 20s and 30s would be deported to a country that they have not been to since they were under the age of 16.
“I am hopeful that Congress will address this issue,” Vice President of Academics Lori Winningham said. “This is very complicated, and there are many facets to this decision that Congress will need to consider. I do not want to see individuals deported immediately, but some kind of system set up to allow them a window to become United States citizens.”
This change to DACA could affect more than 750,000 people and Congress has a six month window to act on this decision, according to CNN. That means they have six months until the Trump administration takes action and possibly starts deporting DACA Dreamers.