UPDATED - CPS Communication - DACA Resources

Revised - 9/13/17
Last week, we provided you with resources to help undocumented students deal with the sudden end to the DACA program. While no new DACA applications are being processed, recipients whose DACA status expires before March 5, 2018 can and should renew that status before the deadline of October 5, 2017. 

Attached is a list of locations where students can renew their DACA status prior to October 5. Please share this important information with your students and their families, and encourage them to share with others as well. 

Documents
DACA Information - Spanish
DACA Sessions - Spanish
DACA information - English
DACA Sessions - English


9/8/17
Dear Students:
Chicago is your home. While still we do not have all the answers about what President Trump’s threats against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will mean for our nation, we know one thing for certain: everyone is welcome here in our city.

In this moment of uncertainty for so many in our nation, we want to reassure you that all students will be able to attend our preschools, our elementary schools, our high schools and our community colleges without fear or intimidation in the city they call home.

No matter what the political landscape, know that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) will continue to provide you with a high-quality, affordable education from pre-school to post-secondary education.

We are making every effort to keep our schools safe from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) enforcement of harmful federal civil immigration laws. ICE is not permitted to access our public education facilities or personnel except in rare instances such as when a warrant is presented or circumstances in which there is an imminent risk of violence or physical harm.

The Star Scholarship program at CCC will always be available to all CPS students regardless of immigration status, because where your family comes from should not determine your ability to one day go to college. As long as you are willing to put in the hard work on your studies, graduate from high school with a 3.0 GPA and nearly college-ready, you can attend City Colleges tuition-free and earn the education you deserve.
Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance means that the City will not ask or collect information about your immigration status. Most importantly, the City will not deny you City services based on your immigration status.

For students seeking further guidance, we encourage you to take advantage of one of many resources, including:
●  The City of Chicago Office of New Americans is committed to working to improve the day-to-day experiences of our city's 560,000 foreign-born residents while delivering economic, social, and cultural benefits for all Chicagoans.
●  The Chicago Legal Clinic at Harold Washington College provides City Colleges students with free legal consultations and appropriate referrals. The Clinic is staffed by a volunteer attorney as well as by law students from local law schools and provides a variety of legal services on a number of issues including immigration.
●  The CCC Undocumented Students resource webpage is committed to ensuring both student access and success for all students, regardless of immigration status.
●  Citizenship Resources at the Chicago Public Library are available at all CPL locations.

Many branches work with community organizations to offer English as a Second Language classes, citizenship workshops and more. They also offer a wide selection of materials on immigration and U.S. citizenship.

We are a proud city of immigrants, and have depicted this through the One Chicago campaign. One Chicago is a public education campaign celebrating the strength in diversity of the three million residents who call this city home. Central to the campaign is a new website, www.onechi.org, that features real Chicagoans sharing their personal stories on how they came to call this city home.

Today and as always, Chicago is your home. Sincerely,

Forrest Claypool
CEO, Chicago Public Schools

Juan Salgado
Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago 
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Documents: 
CPS DACA Resources Letter - English, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Arabic