Duke responds to increased number of ICE raids, connects DACA students with attorney

In recent days, immigration enforcement efforts have led to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the nation, including the arrest of approximately 190 people in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Although similar ICE raids were conducted under the Obama administration in years past, President Donald Trump’s policies regarding immigration have made these raids particularly high-profile. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security expanded the number of people it considers priorities for deportation, leading to heightened fear in immigrant communities.

“I think that there is a greater panic because it happened in so many different places across the country at the same time,” said Felicia Arriaga, a Duke graduate student who was involved in the #DukeSanctuary movement. “I think there was an immediate response for folks to cover it because I think folks were expecting there to be something like this to be occurring.”

Li-Chen Chin, assistant vice president for intercultural programs, said Duke has taken several steps to support its students and re-evaluate its current practices in light of recent events.

Most notably, Chin and colleagues at the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid have arranged for students protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to work with an immigration attorney in Raleigh. She noted that because not all undocumented students qualify for DACA, the University will tailor its support to each student.

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http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/02/duke-responds-to-increased-number-of-ice-raids-connects-daca-students-with-attorney