The Education Department in Mexico is encouraging young undocumented immigrants who may be adversely affected by the decision of the US government to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to apply for English teaching jobs in Mexico. The program was created in 2012 to protect young immigrants who came to the US when they were still minors.
The Mexican government recently upgraded their English teaching goals but is faced with a teacher shortage, and on Wednesday the Education Department issued an invitation for Dreamers to apply to become English teachers at teacher training colleges in the country. The department offers programs assisting people to enter the country’s education system, plus certifying language, and other different skills, and gaining credit for overseas studies.
Education programs in Mexico have also been set up to assist returning immigrants who lack Spanish skills. The deferred action program has helped around 800,000 young immigrants in the last five years, with about 93 percent of those either attending school or working full-time. The average age of a DACA recipient is 25, with most having entered the US at around the age of six, meaning they have little experience of living in their home nations.
DACA recipients and immigrant advocates are hoping that Congress will do as President Donald Trump has asked, and pass immigration reform legislation to permanently protect them from deportation, but Mexico is already planning repatriation programs in the event that does not happen.