On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the President's decision to end DACA program was arbitrary and capricious. This allows DACA to remain in place, continuing to provide temporary immigration relief to certain individuals who arrived in the US as children.This now provides over 700,000 individuals the ability to continue to maintain employment authorization, and helps reduce their vulnerability to domestic violence, sexual assault and other exploitation.

As the photo at the top of this page denotes, Rhode Island has not yet passed In-State Tuition. There is still more that must be done!

Since it was established, the Governor's Executive Order that allows DACA recipients to pay in-state tuition has seen the graduation of over 210 students from Rhode Island’s state colleges. A degree, as we all know, opens the door to greater job opportunities, the ability to establish businesses, and otherwise make more contributions to the Rhode Island economy. CASO urges Governor Raimondo to be prepared with a plan to ensure that Rhode Island continues to provide in-state tuition, state or institutional aid, or scholarships can help ensure that students can fulfill their potential.

We join other immigrant advocacy groups in Rhode Island in asking the Governor to develop a plan that includes mental health and health services for undocumented immigrants and to made funds provided under the CARES ACT available to all Rhode Islanders regardless of status.