Mon Sep 23 17:38:49 UTC 2024: ## DACA Uncertainty Leads to Sharp Decline in Undocumented Student Enrollment at California Universities

**Sacramento, CA** – A new study has revealed a significant drop in the number of undocumented students enrolling in California public universities, coinciding with ongoing legal battles surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

According to research published in the Journal of College & University Law, enrollment of undocumented students in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems has been cut in half since 2016. This decline is attributed to the uncertainty surrounding the future of DACA, which has faced numerous legal challenges since its inception in 2012.

The study highlights a dramatic decrease in the number of students receiving financial aid under the California Dream Act, which was designed to support DACA recipients. In the 2022-2023 academic year, UC awarded only 579 new Dream Act scholarships, compared to 1181 in 2016-2017, a 51% reduction. CSU saw a similar trend, with a 48% decrease in Dream Act awardees from 2219 in 2016-2017 to 1148 in 2022-2023.

The study predicts this downward trend will continue in the coming year, leaving many undocumented students with limited access to higher education. Current DACA regulations, which require undocumented students to have entered the U.S. before 2007, exclude almost all of the 120,000 high school graduates in 2024.

Despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of President Trump’s attempt to end DACA in 2020, legal challenges continue to threaten the program. In 2021, a federal court halted new DACA applications, and a Texas court ruled the program illegal in 2023, although it remains in place for now. The program’s fate could hinge on a Supreme Court decision in 2025.

The study emphasizes the importance of state-level initiatives, particularly in California, where the number of undocumented college students is highest. It concludes that “if DACA is nullified by the U.S. Supreme Court, that will only reinforce the need to once again seek experimentation and solutions at the state and university/college level until federal legislative reform in this area can finally become a reality.”

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