The Hispanic Student Association is providing a haven for DACA Dreamers and Hispanic students in need of acceptance and hope through their weekly meetings and open ideals.

            HSA is a social, educational, and service

organization on-campus that strives to educate

students about the Latino and Hispanic

community by fighting negative stereotypes and

creating a bond with the Denton community.

            “Every week there is a new topic for our

meetings,” senior Natalie Bermudez said.

“Usually they can be kind of controversial but

HSA does a good job about bringing these topics

up and making people aware.”

            One of the main topics is the repeal of

DACA, a policy established by the Obama administration that allowed some individuals who entered the country as minors illegally to receive a two-year deferred action from deportation, and that affects UNT students. According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are 113,000 DACA-eligible participants in Texas.

            “I was 6-years-old, I didn’t know any better, so it’s not like I knew I was committing a crime,” junior Miriam Castillo said. “There are a lot of regulations that people don’t know about. We have to be tip-top people: report taxes, I can’t get arrested, and the moment I slip up it gets taken away immediately. I’m 22 and I’ve never received a speeding ticket. Dreamers see this as a privilege, so if it’s taken a way, you’re taking our whole life away.”

            However, that isn’t stopping HSA and the Hispanic community on campus from having their voices heard. According to junior Juan Gallago, HSA responded by educating the public with educational sessions and encouraging students to participate in last fall’s town hall where they talked to President Neal Smatresk about making UNT a sanctuary campus.

            "I want to make clear that I unequivocally support DACA, undocumented and other students who are overcoming significant barriers to educational attainment." Neal Smatresk said in a letter to the UNT community.

            HSA has become a haven for Dreamers by joining people together from a community who have gone through some of the same experiences and upbringing. By showing equal support, they have created a safe space for UNT students from all walks of life.

            Those whose DACA status is ending will have a one-month window to apply for renewal starting March 5, 2018. This will last the standard two years and give Congress more time to decide on the next steps for the future of the Dreamers.

            “I cried when I read the letter sent by the UNT president because it made me feel like I was being treated the same and that I am safe,” Castillo said. “I’m not scared to show up at UNT because my school has my back. I can go without being paranoid and that means a lot to me. That means I picked the right school to go to.”