Undocumented Students, Legal Scholars, and Labor Experts Host Teach-In as UC Nears Deadline for Plan to Hire Undocumented Students
MEDIA ADVISORY for: November 7, 2023
CONTACT
Silvia Vazquez, UCLA Labor Center, vazsil89@ucla.edu, 424-354-6069
Undocumented Students, Legal Scholars, and Labor Experts Host Teach-In as UC Nears Deadline for Plan to Hire Undocumented Students
WHAT: On November 7th, undocumented student organizers, legal scholars, and labor experts who are leading the #Opportunity4All campaign efforts to demand equal access to work and educational opportunities for undocumented students, at the University of California (UC), are hosting a teach-in as the UC nears its November 30th deadline to finalize their plan to remove hiring restrictions for undocumented students who lack access to DACA or other immigration protections.
At the teach-in, undocumented students leaders will share their stories and provide updates on the campaign. In May, undocumented student leaders secured a crucial victory in the Opportunity for All campaign when the UC Board of Regents announced their groundbreaking plan to move forward with the removal of hiring restrictions for all UC students, regardless of their immigration status. This month, the UC Regents will unveil their strategy to implement this important and historic plan.
Leading scholars of immigration and constitutional law from around the country have shown the University of California has the power under existing law to provide its undocumented students equal access to educational and employment opportunities.
WHEN: November 7, 2023 at 2:30 – 4:00 PM (PT)
WHERE:
- In-Person Location: The Fowler A103B classroom at UCLA (308 Charles E Young Dr N, Los Angeles, CA 90024).
- Livestream on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uclalabor
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
Because the protections provided by DACA have never been updated, almost all undocumented youth now entering higher education are not eligible for its protections. In California, there are already approximately 44,326 undocumented college students who are not eligible for DACA, and 27,000 undocumented students graduating from high school each year. Undocumented students in California cannot apply for jobs and other employment opportunities simply because of their status. This includes graduate student researcher and teaching assistant positions, work study jobs, paid internships, and student leadership positions in campus organizations, and other educational and professional opportunities for deeper involvement with their institutions.
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About UCLA CILP:
Founded in 2020, the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law expands the law school’s role as a national leader in immigration law and policy, generating innovative ideas at the intersection of immigration scholarship and practice and serving as a hub for transforming those ideas into meaningful changes in immigration policy.
About the UCLA Labor Center:
The UCLA Labor Center believes that a public university belongs to the people and should advance quality education and employment for all. Every day we bring together workers, students, faculty, and policymakers to address the most critical issues facing working people today. Our research, education, and policy work lifts industry standards, creates jobs that are good for communities, and strengthens immigrant rights, especially for students and youth. The UCLA Labor Center is housed in the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to the study, teaching, and discussion of labor and employment issues at UCLA.
About the Undocumented Student-Led Network:
The mission of the Undocumented Student-Led Network (USN) is to create a statewide network of immigrant youth leaders to work towards advancing an immigrant reform agenda. USN commits to expand and advocate for undocumented student resources, as well as build community and create safe spaces across campuses. Ultimately, the USN aims to uplift undocumented voices and accurately portray the undocumented experience.
About the UCLA Dream Resource Center:
The UCLA Dream Resource Center (DRC), a program team of the UCLA Labor Center, trains the next generation of diverse leaders—immigrant youth and allies with lived experiences—to be at the forefront of social justice movements and achieve equity and justice for workers, families, and communities.
