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NEA Issue Explainer

Immigration

We need a fair immigration process that upholds America’s values and commitment to liberty and justice for all.
DACAmented Educators outside the U.S. Supreme Court Image by Patrick Ryan
NEA members at the U.S. Supreme Court for oral arguments on DACA in 2019.
By: National Education Association
Published: December 14, 2021
This issue explainer originally appeared on NEA.org

Every day, educators encounter students consumed by stress and anxiety about what the future holds—for themselves and their families. More than 18 million children under age 18 have a parent born outside the United States—and nearly 40 percent of them live in households where neither parent is a U.S. citizen.

Dreamers, DACA recipients, individuals with temporary protected status, and other immigrants play a vital role in our economy and everyday lives.

We need an immigration system that is humane, functional, and just. NEA supports broad, inclusive legislation with multiple pathways to citizenship that prioritize keeping families together.

smiling Latina woman in a brown shirt
Immigration is in Build Back Better because the public, Democrats in Congress, and the President of the United States recognize undocumented immigrants as an integral part of the United States of America.”
Quote by: Angélica Reyes, high school history teacher, Santee Education Complex, Los Angeles

Suggested Further Reading

Speak Up For Students and Public Schools

When we act together and lift our voices together in unison, we can improve the lives of children.
3 activists hold a banner protesting immigration policy

Take Action for Public Education

We are on a mission to dismantle unjust systems and build the world our students deserve. Together, as educators and allies, we can take actions to help all students—of all colors and backgrounds—learn, grow, and fulfill their potential.
Oregon Education Association logo

Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

The Oregon Education Association (OEA) is a union committed to the cause of providing the basic right of great public education to every student. OEA represents about 41,000 educators working in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public schools and community colleges. OEA’s membership includes licensed teachers and specialists, classified/education support professionals (ESPs), community college faculty, retired educators, and student members. OEA members also belong to the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association (NEA).
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Join OEA

The Oregon Education Association is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org