
Take Action
These are uncertain times for our community. At times like this, we must come together and take action. Now is the time to share our stories, contact our elected officials, and be vocal on social media ensuring we are keeping issues the matter to our community at the forefront of the national conversation. Learn more about our advocacy on behalf of undocumented students and DACA recipients, and join the movement if you haven’t already to advocate for the Dream Act of 2017.
Contact your Tennessee Representatives
Our representatives in Congress must fill the void of leadership left by the executive branch of our government and come together to pass legislation that will protect our undocumented and DACAmented community.
Please contact our Senators today and urge them to step up to protect the thousands of immigrant youth that call Tennessee home. Ask them to condemn President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA and move quickly to enact legislation to protect DACA recipients.
Senator Bob Corker
Call: 202–224-3344
@SenBobCorker
What to say (sample call script):
“Hello my name is ____ and I live in (zip code). I am calling to urge Senator Bob Corker to denounce President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA and to commit to moving quickly to enacting legislation to protect DACA recipients and our undocumented community. I urge Congress to pursue clean legislation that doesn’t use immigrant youth as bargaining chips against they family members or other members of their community.” [You can include reasons why this issue is important to you]
Senator Lamar Alexander
Call: 202–224-4944
@SenAlexander
What to say:
“Hello my name is ____ and I live in (zip code). I am calling to urge Senator Lamar Alexander to denounce President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA and to commit to moving quickly to enacting legislation to protect DACA recipients and our undocumented community. I urge Congress to pursue clean legislation that doesn’t use immigrant youth as bargaining chips against they family members or other members of their community.” [You can include reasons why this issue is important to you]
Thank Congressman Jim Cooper
Congressman Jim Cooper
Call: 202–225-4311
Tweet: @RepJimCooper
What to say (sample call script):
“Hello my name is ____ and I live in (zip code). I am calling to thank Congressman Jim Cooper for his support of DACA recipients and immigrant youth. I urge Congress to pursue clean legislation that doesn’t use immigrant youth as bargaining chips against they family members or other members of their community.” [You can include reasons why this issue is important to you]
Learn About the Coalition #DefendDACA Campaign
On June 29th, 2017 Texas led nine attorneys general — including Tennessee’s Herbert Slattery III — in sending a letter to President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions giving Trump a deadline to terminate the DACA program by September 5th, or they would file a lawsuit.
The following months saw the rise of the #DefendDACA movement across the nation. As educators, the Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition joined the movement by way of writing a letter to our two U.S. Senators asking them to urge Trump to protect DACA and to work towards a longterm legislative solution.
Over 240 educators from Tennessee signed on to our letter.
In recognition of the threat to DACA, and the short-term nature of the program, legislation has been introduced in Congress to provide a more permanent protection and a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants.
Learn About the Tuition Opportunity Campaign
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition has been leading efforts at the state legislature to allow undocumented students access to in-state tuition rates. As of now, undocumented students have to pay out-of-state rates and public institutions of higher education.
Learn more about the campaign and how to be a part of the effort.
Legislative History of the Tuition Opportunity Campaign
09th General Assembly (2015–2016)
SB 612 (Gardenhire) HB 675 (M. White): The Tuition Equality bill
The bill proposed in 2015 would have granted in-state tuition to student who are considered lawfully present in Tennessee and graduated from a Tennessee high school, obtained a GED, or been homeschooled in Tennessee. The bill would not have expanded access to state financial aid, like the HOPE Scholarship or Tennessee Promise.
In 2015, the Tuition Equality bill succeeded in the Senate but failed in the House by one vote.
In 2016, the bill needed 18 votes to move out of the House Calendar and Rules Committee. However, 18 votes could not be secured so the bill made no movement.
110th General Assembly (2017–2018)
SB 1014 (Gardenhire) HB 863 (M. White): The Tuition Opportunity Bill
The bill proposed would have granted students access to in-state tuition rates if they had: attended high school for the two years prior to high school graduation, graduated from a Tennessee high school, obtained a GED or completed a home school program in Tennessee.
This bill advanced from the first committees in the House and the Senate, but failed by one vote in the House Education Administration and Planning Committee.
SB 635 (Gardenhire) HB 660 (M. White)
The bill proposed would have authorized each public governing body to determine qualifications for in-state tuition rates.
The House proposed amendment to the bill removed language that would have allowed undocumented students to benefit from the access to in-state tuition. The bill was deferred to 2018.