Mexico should prepare for the deportation of young Mexicans working and studying in the U.S. under the deferred action initiative known as DACA.
There are several programs already in place that could be used as blueprints or expanded to accommodate a sudden influx of DREAMers and allow them to continue their studies and find job opportunities.
“We created programs not really thinking about deportations, but they could help under such scenarios,” Rebeca Vargas, CEO of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, told me.
“Our ‘1,000 Dreamers-1,000 Leaders’ programconnects DREAMers with professional mentors for a one-year commitment in a similar area they want to pursue,” Vargas explained. “We also offer online training and networking events were DREAMers meet other DREAMers and they get introduced to mentors.”
“We have a program called ‘Dreamers Without Borders’ where we bring delegations to Mexico so they can reconnect with their country of origin while fostering pride in their Mexican heritage,” she said. “They go to different company headquarters and they realize that if they ever have to come back they could find work here. We open new horizons for them.”
Vargas and others have been actively working with Mexico’s Ministry of Education (SEP) to eliminate obstacles so that courses taken in the U.S. can be validated and people sent back don’t have to repeat subjects.
“Bear in mind that even though they are young, many DREAMers have kids and we want to make sure their children are also taken care of,” she said.
But when it comes to high school and college, she says agreements need to be reached on a case by case basis.
Vargas said she has held talks with some Mexican universities to offer online courses so that undocumented immigrants in the U.S. can afford an education and continue their studies in Mexico if they chose to come back home or are deported.
Making the Mexican education system more flexible could make all the difference.
