September 16, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

We want to reassure you that despite a federal judge’s disheartening ruling last week that again found the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to be unlawful, Foothill College and De Anza College continue to welcome current and potential undocumented and DACA students. The judge’s decision has no impact on a student’s eligibility to enroll or stay enrolled in our colleges. 

The latest ruling allows current DACA recipients to keep and renew their status; however, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is still unable to process new applications. The Biden administration is expected to appeal last week’s ruling, and the case is likely to reach the Supreme Court.  

Please urge DACA recipients to apply for renewal as quickly as possible. For those seeking advice and resources, helpful sites include the following:  

• Find Your Ally - Free immigration legal services and case support for students, staff, and faculty on California community college campuses statewide or virtually. Financial assistance may be available to help pay renewal fees. findyourally.com  
• Foothill College Dreamers and UndocuAlly resources foothill.edu/dreamers  
• Foothill College financial support available to undocumented students foothill.edu/dreamers/financialsupport.html 
• De Anza College resources for undocumented students deanza.edu/students/undocumented 
• De Anza College Higher Education for AB 540 Students (HEFAS) deanza.edu/hefas 
• Fact sheet on the latest ruling prepared by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the Cornell Law School Migration and Human Rights Program presidentsalliance.org/daca-update-what-you-need-to-know/ 

We stand in solidarity with the Board of Trustees and colleagues across the state and nation in advocating for Congress to take action to protect our students and develop a pathway to citizenship. We hope you will join us in advocacy efforts and participate in the California Community Colleges Undocumented Student Action Week October 16-20 to learn more about how you can help support our students. 

As fall quarter begins, please remind our students that they belong at Foothill-De Anza and are welcome, valued, and appreciated.  

In solidarity,

Lee D. Lambert, J.D.     Lloyd A. Holmes, Ph.D.          Kristina Whalen, Ph.D.

Chancellor                     De Anza College President.   Foothill College President