ACA Opposes DACA Cancellation

As stated in the ACA Code of Ethics Preamble, counselors are committed to supporting social justice and to “honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within in their social and cultural contexts.”

Rescinding DACA is outright discrimination against individuals who were brought to the United States as children, through no fault of their own, and who consider themselves to be Americans.

Counselors know that discrimination is traumatic and can cause mental and physical health problems and disorders. In their professional roles, counselors help clients find safety in understanding the emotions and thoughts that result from harmful or life-threatening events.

In addition, counselors are committed to safeguarding the integrity of the counselor–client relationship for all clients, regardless of immigration status. Counselors ensure that records and documents in any medium are secure. They closely guard the privacy of all clients, disclosing information only with client authorization, including status as a client. Counselor guidance in this area is outlined in the ACA Code of Ethics, Section B: Confidentiality and Privacy.

More information on mental health and immigration status can be found at:

Science magazine: Children of legally protected immigrants less likely to suffer mental illness

Washington Post: The little-known benefit of DACA: It reduced mental illness in dreamers’ children

The Lancet: Health consequences of the U.S. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration programme; a quasi-experimental study

ACA resources and support for counselors

• Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies
• Counseling Today article (April 6, 2017): Mental health implications of undocumented immigrant status
  By Laura M. Gonzalez and Nathaniel N. Ivers

• Counseling Today article (Feb. 8, 2013): The importance of career counseling with undocumented Latino students: A sneak peek into ACA’s Client-Focused Research Series
  By Heather Rudow

• ACA webinar: Traumatic Stress and Marginalized Groups – CE offered

• Subpoena response: When a professional counselor receives a subpoena to deliver a client’s clinical records, we highly advise IMMEDIATE contact with the counselor’s professional liability insurance carrier. HPSO is the ACA insurance partner.