Recent Court Rulings

June 19, 2020

The last few days have given us great news for our Dreamers, Undocumented, DACA, and LGBTQIA students.

First, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction in the case entitled Oakley v DeVos. The injunction prohibits the U.S. Department of Education from imposing any student eligibility requirements on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds provided by the CARES Act. This ruling allows College of the Canyons to disburse emergency financial aid grants to our students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, regardless of the student’s eligibility for federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act or their immigration status.

We have updated the application for CARES grants to ensure our students can apply for this money today. We are excited all of our students will now be eligible for this funding provided by the federal government back in April.

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court announced a decision in the case of the Department of Homeland Security et.al. v. Regents of the University of California et. al. The decision rejects the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program put into place eight years ago. This decision is significant, as DACA protects hundreds of thousands of hardworking people – including innovators at top companies, nurses and doctors supporting the health of our communities, and teachers educating our children. Many DACA recipients are currently serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and many are community college alumni or students.  We are encouraged by the court’s decision, and hopeful that it paves the way for a permanent solution that provides certainty and protection for DACA recipients.

Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court protected the rights of the LGBTQIA from workplace discrimination. This is a landmark ruling for our LGBTQIA brothers and sisters. The ruling declared gay and transgender workers are protected by the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

At College of the Canyons, we believe all people have a right to higher education and the life-changing opportunities that it can provide. We stand with our Dreamers and our LGBTQIA students to celebrate these rulings.