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Local DACA student implores Congress to act now

Eastern student advocates on Capitol Hill during lame duck session

by Michael Rouleau and Noel Teter

Willimantic, CT (12/13/2022) — Eastern Connecticut State University student Katherine Escalante received the chance of a lifetime this November when she was invited to Washington, D.C, to advocate for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. A DACA recipient from South Dakota, Escalante was recruited by FWD.us (Forward) to urge members of Congress to protect and advance the immigration policy that has afforded her so many opportunities.

Escalante's experience was bittersweet. "On the one hand, it was so daunting having to explain why someone should support a piece of legislation that impacts so much of the way that I am able to live," she said. "Having to warrant why I deserve to continue calling it home, can be harder than it sounds. On the other hand, this was the only time in my life I've truly been able to advocate for myself and my community."

Escalante, a sophomore political science major, shared her view on what Congress needs to do before Dec. 31 to bring stability to the thousands of undocumented residents in her situation:

"Congress needs to act now and pass legislative protections for DACA recipients during this lame-duck session, meaning before the end of this year," she said. "The speaker of the house for the upcoming 118th Congress, Kevin McCarthy, has already stated that he will not advance any policy regarding immigration to the house floor, meaning this is our last chance to protect DACA recipients like me from the almost certain end to the program."

While in Washington, D.C. Escalante met with U.S. senators and representatives at the Capitol and event recorded a DACA commercial with Forward.

  • Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuTQCER9NvI

"The main highlight of the trip was being able to meet dozens of other amazing 'under-documented' folks," she said. "I learned so much from being in their presence, hearing their stories and accepting their wisdom."

Escalante explained the impact DACA has had on her life. "DACA protections have allowed me to live my life without fear," she said. "I was able to get a job for the first time, I was able to accept an internship for the first time, and I was able to get a driver's license and my own credit card. Without this program, I and 600,000 other dreamers would be forced to live their lives in the shadows."

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 4,300 students annually on its Willimantic campus. In addition to attracting students from 160 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 31 states and eight countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 20 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 13 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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