When Arizona's SB1070 was passed in 2010, Reyna Montoya was a college student, undocumented, living with her parents. And the so-called show me your papers law had them in constant fear.

The award “acknowledges and celebrates the determination of living legends who are making a difference in and around their city. The award recognizes local community builders who commit their time, resources and influence to improve and invest in their local communities; the Final Four host cities for Men and Women’s Basketball,” according to the NCAA.

"I think about students I get to work with, that I get to accompany and walk side by side. And you get to see what really happens when you give them the opportunity to blossom," Montoya said.

“En realidad, necesitamos un apoyo bipartidista para que pasen estas propuestas de ley o para que se quiten o se erradiquen.” - José Patiño

En una reunión especial con líderes sociales y medios de comunicación de Arizona, el subsecretario del Tesoro, Wally Adeyemo expuso la labor que se viene realizando por parte del presidente Joe Biden para mejorar la economía familiar y acercar vivienda accesible a las comunidades.

We spoke with Mario Montoya, a research analyst and coalition consultant for Aliento, a Phoenix-based advocacy group supporting DACA participants, to help illuminate the difficulties faced by undocumented students. Montoya addressed the vulnerable circumstances faced by students without DACA protection in the present political and legal environment.

More than 90,000 college students in Arizona have at least one undocumented parent, and sweeping changes to federal student aid policy are leaving many of them unable to complete applications that are critical to their ability to pay for school.

En Arizona, las familias con estatus migratorio mixto enfrentan desafíos sustanciales al solicitar ayuda federal para estudiantes debido al requisito de la Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FAFSA, por sus siglas en inglés) de un número de seguro social de los contribuyentes financieros. 

Salinas is a recipient of temporary immigration protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, or DACA, enacted by the Obama administration in 2012. This program was intended to temporarily alleviate the threat of deportation for the hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth who immigrated to the United States as children.

Arizona stands at a pivotal moment as we approach the new year, with our decisions set to shape the progress we’ve made for education access for our communities.