Since 2015, the California-Mexico Studies Center (CMSC) provides the opportunity to students who are beneficiaries of Deferred Action (DACA) to return to Mexico, to continue their studies for a specified period.
From 2015 to 2017, following the cancellation of DACA by the previous administration, the CMSC's Dreamers' Study Abroad program provided the opportunity for six groups of DACA recipient students to return to Mexico. About 160 students were able to return to their home country during the summer.
DACA recipients cannot leave the country, as they do not have permission to re-enter the United States. The only ways for a DACA recipient to leave the United States and re-enter is through a advance parole or travel permit, which allows the re-entry of foreigners to the United States.
That is why this program is important, since thousands of DACA recipients are unable to return to their country of origin due to their immigration status.
This year the summer program of Dreamers' Study Abroad, managed to complete six groups of 30 to 40 people to visit Mexico during the summer of 2022. Participants will visit Mexico for a month, the first three weeks are independent travel in their country of origin, which allows participants from Central America to also have the opportunity to visit their countries.
The last week focuses entirely on the academic experience of the participants, who visit Mexico City and attend field trips, museums, and conferences.
Back to the United States, all participants return on the same flight, and Immigration or Border Protection agents receive an advance list of all DACA recipients involved in the trip.
Although Dreamers' Study Abroad is not associated with any American university, the same universities recommend their eligible students to participate in this experience.
Applications closed on December 10, and some of the requirements were to have a complete vaccination schedule and send a letter of recommendation.
Learn more at: https://www.california-mexicocenter.org/
