The state's largest college opened a new center last week specifically to help support students who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Portland Community College officially opened the door Jan. 22 to its DACA Resource Center at the school's Rock Creek campus on the west side. The school says it's the first center of its kind in the state. The center will also be available to other undocumented students brought to the United States as children, commonly referred to as Dreamers.

"At PCC, we recognize that dreamer students face unique barriers that require additional mental, emotional and financial support," Liliana Luna, Rock Creek's Multicultural Center coordinator and a DACA recipient said in a statement. "The new DREAM Center focuses on the empowerment, support and retention of dreamers and their families."

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported on the resource center last fall. The $50,000 effort is backed by the Meyer Memorial Trust and the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative.

The resource center opens as the fate of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients nationwide remains uncertain.

DACA recipients with work permits face a March 5 deadline for renewal. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, indicated he would be willing to debate an immigration bill that included help for immigrants brought here as children if a deal isn't agreed upon before Feb. 8, when Congress must again decide on a spending bill or face a government shutdown.

Last fall, Luna said she envisioned the resource center as a place for education, outreach, and workshops on college readiness for undocumented students and families.

She also said the center would help roughly 20 students and families with issues such as legal advice, mentoring services and other programs in a bilingual setting.

Luna said her goal with the resource center was to empower students. "Let them know that they are here because they're worth it," she said, "they can stand up to things that are not right."



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen