WHEREAS, there are approximately 535,000 undocumented immigrants in New York City, and an estimated 345,000 public school students are the children of undocumented immigrants, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute; and

WHEREAS, President Obama’s 2012 executive order, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), allowed more than 700,000 young people who entered the United States as undocumented children and have deep roots in this country to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and temporary work authorization, including teaching certification for those qualified to teach; and

WHEREAS, the “sensitive locations” policy issued in 2011 by the Department of Homeland  Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement places strict limits on ICE enforcement operations in schools; and

WHEREAS, there is concern that, with the transition to a new administration, the DACA executive order will be rescinded and two to three million undocumented immigrants could face deportation; and

WHEREAS, New York City has historically been a beacon of hope and a gateway to opportunity for immigrants from all over the world; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT reaffirm its support for DACA and the millions of upstanding immigrants in our city and our public schools that Obama’s executive order shields; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will advocate on behalf of UFT members and New York City public schools students who could face deportation or separation from family members due to deportation as a result of the reversal of DACA; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT, in concert with allied groups, will hold a town hall discussion in 2017 to engage its members in questions of immigration policy and how it affects UFT members, our schools and our students.