In an increasingly divisive political environment, we are a group of school leaders asking for Colorado’s support in protecting individuals critical to our school communities — our young leaders who also happen to be DREAMers.
Passing the bipartisan DREAM Act of 2017 is a critical economic issue for Colorado and for our country. Estimates from the Center for American Progress suggest that ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would cost Colorado more than $856.9 million in annual GDP losses.
But for our schools and our communities, this issue goes beyond economics. It is about the incredible, diverse communities built by our students and staff — those born here and elsewhere — who make Denver a vibrant and desirable city to live in. Revoking DACA would have devastating impacts on our schools and the Colorado community.
Since the implementation of DACA by President Barack Obama in 2012, thousands of children in Colorado have become DREAMers, young people who came to the United States as children, and though previously undocumented, were able to apply for authorization to attend school and work.
There are currently more than 17,000 Colorado DREAMers who help make up our state and our schools. Approximately 95 percent of DREAMers are either in school or working, according to the Center for American Progress, and we have the honor and privilege of calling many of them our students, colleagues, family members and friends.
At Rocky Mountain Prep, for example, it is difficult to imagine DACA recipient Marissa Molina not being a part of the team. She is co-leading one of Rocky Mountain Prep’s major organizational priorities this year, is ensuring all fifth-grade scholars transition to excellent middle schools, and is leading our partnership work with families. If Molina was no longer able to work in this country, Rocky Mountain Prep would lose a leader, a role model for our scholars, and a friend.
Molina’s story is one of many from each of our communities. DACA recipients have powerful and wide-ranging impact on our teams, the students we teach every day, and the families who make up our schools.
Thanks to the work of Denver’s leadership, steps have been taken to make our city’s stance on this issue clear. We are particularly proud of Mayor Michael Hancock’s and the Denver City Council’s recently proposed executive order, which will hinder efforts that threaten DREAMers and help make Denver a safe and welcoming community for all.
And yet DACA is still currently under threat because a few states are calling on the federal government to end the program by Tuesday.
We strongly urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan DREAM Act of 2017, a bill which provides permanent protections for the more than 800,000 individuals who have been temporarily protected by the DACA policy.
This updated legislation would allow DREAMers to apply for legal status — and eventually citizenship — if they meet certain requirements tied to education or work, pass a background check, and remain in good legal status.
As education leaders, we work tirelessly to ensure all of Denver’s children have a better future. Ending DACA would have devastating impacts for our communities and that future we are working to build. At a time of great divisiveness in our country, supporting DREAMers is a clear, bipartisan way to ensure these invaluable members of our society are protected.
Individuals hoping to weigh in on this issue can go to dreamers.fwd.us for ways to voice your support, or please call your representative directly.
James Cryan is the founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep, a network of charter schools in Denver and Aurora. He wrote this commentary on behalf of more than 90 principals from across Denver. The full list of signers can be found at DenverPrincipalsforDACA.com.
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