DACA Update
On January 9, 2018, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a halt to the federal government’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. In the case Regents of the University of California, et al. v. Department of Homeland Security, et al., Alsup granted a preliminary injunction — a temporary order blocking the termination of the DACA program while the case goes forward — requiring U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to begin accepting DACA renewal applications again. On January 13, 2018, USCIS announced its process for accepting renewal applications. USCIS also stated that further guidance about DACA renewal applications under the court order would be provided later.
New DACA applications are not being accepted.
More information and FAQs are available from the National Immigration Law Center.
Legal Resources
- American Immigration Lawyers Association - provides a lawyer referral service.
- ImmigrationLawHelp.org - provides an online directory of nearly 1,000 free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers in all 50 states.
- American Bar Association - provides a Consumer’s Guide to Legal Help on a state-by-state basis, including options for pro bono programs which match low-income clients with volunteer lawyers.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) - provides legal trainings, educational materials, and advocacy to advance immigrant rights.
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC) - one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants.
- Centro Presente, Inc. - Massachusetts Latin-American immigrant organization offering pro-bono legal advice.
- Irish International Immigrant Center - Massachusetts organization that assists immigrants from around the world, of all races and ethnicities.
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee - organization providing support and pro-bono legal advice for Arab Americans.
- Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Social Services of New England) - provides high quality legal representation and advice to asylum seekers in Massachusetts who could not otherwise afford legal counsel.
- Immigration Advocates: Nonprofit Resource Center - Catholic Charities of Boston: Refugee and Immigration Services
- Immigration Equality: The Nation's Leading LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Organization - represent and advocate for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse, and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
Obtaining competent immigration legal advice is important. We encourage immigrant families to find out about their rights and options. Some families may have mixed immigration status (having U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and undocumented family members in the same family). As a result, each family’s available options may vary. Please be aware that there are individuals who claim to provide immigration advice who are not licensed attorneys with experience in immigration law. Prior to engagement, we recommend that you verify that the practitioner is a licensed attorney with immigration law experience.
Educational Resources
- Department of Homeland Security Memorandum on Rescission of Deferred Action for Childhoood Arrivals (DACA) dated September 5, 2017
- Educators For Fair Consideration (E4fc) - empowering undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - information on requesting consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) including toolkit and FAQ.
- American Council on Education - immigration post-election Q&A and issues brief.
- American Immigration Council - "sanctuary cities," trust acts, and community policing explained
- ACE Letter for BRIDGE Act - Letter to Senator Graham and Senator Durbin from President of the American Council on Education, Molly Corbett Broad, in support of the "Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy" (BRIDGE) Act
- Additional Resources recommended by the Ignation Solidarity Network
Campus Support Services
- Confidential Counseling on Campus
- Students: Counseling Center, Hogan 207, 508-793-3363 (M-F, 9 a.m.-noon; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.) After hours, contact Public Safety 508-793-2222 and request to be put in touch with the psychologist on call.
- Employees: Employee Assistance Program 800-828-6025.
- Pastoral Resources
- Chaplains’ Office 508-793-2448 (M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). After hours and on weekends, contact Public Safety 508-793-2222 and request to be put in touch with a Chaplain.
- Chaplains’ Office 508-793-2448 (M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). After hours and on weekends, contact Public Safety 508-793-2222 and request to be put in touch with a Chaplain.
- Class Dean
- Contact information can be found on the Class Deans website. Class deans can connect students with additional College resources.
- Contact information can be found on the Class Deans website. Class deans can connect students with additional College resources.
- Reporting Options for Discrimination and Harassment
- The College is committed to sustaining a welcoming environment for everyone and especially for those who may be vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, and other protected classes. To access reporting options for discrimination and harassment, please see the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures in the Student Handbook, the Discriminatory Harassment Policy, and the Sexual Misconduct Policy Resources.
- The College is committed to sustaining a welcoming environment for everyone and especially for those who may be vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, and other protected classes. To access reporting options for discrimination and harassment, please see the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures in the Student Handbook, the Discriminatory Harassment Policy, and the Sexual Misconduct Policy Resources.
- Campus Diversity Resources
Communications from the President of the College
- December 2017 - Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration - Newly formed alliance that brings together American college and university chancellors and presidents dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities. Signed by Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College
- September 12, 2017 - American Council on Education - Letter to Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer - Signed by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
- September 5, 2017 - AJCU Statement on DACA Rescission
- August 29, 2017 - Over 1,300 Catholic Educators Call on Trump Administration to Save DACA and Protect Dreamers - Signed by Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College; Margaret N. Freije, provost and dean of the College; along with a number of Holy Cross faculty and staff members.
- August 28, 2017 - American Council on Education - Letter to President Donald Trump - Signed by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
- February 3, 2017 - American Council on Education - Letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security - Signed by Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College
- January 30, 2017 - Message Regarding Recent Executive Orders on Immigration - From Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president and Margaret N. Freije, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college
- January 29, 2017 – Academics Against Immigration Executive Order Petition - Signed by Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College; Margaret N. Freije, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College; along with a number of Holy Cross faculty members. Note: names may not immediately appear as the list is verified and manually updated.
- January 23, 2017 - Letter to the Campus Community
- December 7, 2016 - Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College of the Holy Cross, joins other college and university presidents across the country in showing support for undocumented students and the retention of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. By signing the three letters below, Fr. Boroughs, alongside hundreds of leaders in higher education, has pledged his commitment to continue supporting and educating these students:
- Statement of AJCU Presidents on Undocumented Students - Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Nov. 30
- A Statement from Leaders in Catholic Higher Education - Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Nov. 30
- College & University Presidents Call for U.S. to Uphold and Continue DACA, Pomona College - Pomona College, Nov. 21
- November 18, 2016 - Holy Cross President Joins College, University Leaders in Open Letter to President-Elect Trump