A Dreamer’s Guide to Success
By Alicia C. Marrero-Riera
Like many recent graduates entering the workforce, Dreamers are oftentimes found lost when looking for career opportunities. However, unlike their counterparts, Dreamers face additional obstacles regarding their visas, employment status, and additional restrictions.
Dreamers are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This immigration policy protects eligible undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents when they were children. DACA provides employment authorization (work permit) and protection from deportation
To help ease these additional burdens, we’ve created a guide of things that DACA recipients should know, resources, and additional opportunities.
Know Your Employment Rights
Before entering the workforce it is important to know your rights and what information you are required to provide. The most important thing to note is that any information about your immigration status is confidential. Your employer only has an obligation to see your work permit, do not feel the need to share additional details. For more information regarding Dreamer’s Employment Rights, the following resources cover topics like discrimination, illegal interview questions, and termination basis.
Getting Experience
The resources under this section are for recent graduates who either need experience before entering the workforce or are interested in directly seeking employment. Either way, you can subscribe to many of the websites below to receive future notifications about upcoming opportunities. It is also worthy to note that there are thousands of other resources just a Google search away for DACA students, if the ones listed below are not enough.
Fellowship, Internship, and Professional Scholar Programs
Most people who are new to the workforce, find that many jobs require some level of former experience. Below is a list of fully funded program that can help you show your dedication to your specific field while adding to your resume.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Internship Program
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
UCLA Labor Center's Dream Resource Center National Fellowship
Cornell University Resources for Undocumented Students, Scholarships, Grants & Internship