THE WHITE HOUSE DECISION THIS WEEK to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) promptly notified undocumented health-care workers that their futures may be on hold.
Consumer media primarily focused on medical professionals affected by the Trump administration’s decision, which is relying on a legislative decision within the next six months as a response to the reversal of the program, which was initiated by an executive order during the Obama administration.
Undocumented immigrants in the dental profession are impacted too. Here are some of the media references noticed by RDH eVillage.
A recently graduated dental hygienist in Illinois was “scared” about her plans to eventually become a dentist. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
A New Jersey dental hygiene student is “mentally preparing [herself] for the worst.” (Vox)
Dental hygienists were grouped by the National Immigration Law Center as being one of several occupations where the decision will “pull the rug from under their feet.” (Common Dreams)
A south Texas student discovered that she was an undocumented immigrant when she began applying for colleges. With plans to graduate in December, she doesn't know if her degree can be used to "apply to denal school." (Valley Morning Star)
"We will continue to fight," said a DACA protester told a TV station in Birmingham, Ala., prior to a protest. The University of Alabama student intended to apply to dental school after graduation next April. (CBS affiliate in Birmingham)
A fourth-year dental student in Oregon said the news meant “[her] lifelong dream literally being taken away from [her].” (Herald and News)
An Indiana student majoring in pre-dental curriculum said it was "unfair that people are treating our future like it’s a game.” (student news media for Indiana University)
