Missouri does not allow DACA recipients to become licensed as nurses. One graduate wants to change that

Alondra Orozco’s post-high school plans were determined early. The Ritenour High School graduate was introduced to nursing through a certified nursing assistant course she took during her junior year at Northern Technical High School.

Although he had a clear career plan from an early age, nothing could prepare him for the obstacles ahead. Orozco is a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipient. He and his family moved from Chihuahua, Mexico, to St. Louis when he was just five years old. He moved to the St. Louis area. He and his brothers went to St. He grew up in St. Louis and moved to St. Louis because it was close to his family’s home in O’Fallon. She chose this after successfully enrolling in St. Charles Community College’s nursing program. After passing his exams and graduating, Orozco is caught off guard by devastating news; He cannot obtain his driver’s license in Missouri due to his citizenship status.

This was a blow to Orozco and his entire family, especially his parents.

“I’m the first in our family to go to college, and that’s what they really wanted. “To see that I was going after what I wanted,” Orozco said. St. Louis is on the air. “And the deeper I got into nursing school, the more deeply I would realize that I really loved it.”

Himself, St. She said that during her two years at St. Charles Community College, none of her professors or advisors indicated that the Missouri board of nursing would not allow her to take the National Council Licensure Examination in her state. St. According to the chief of staff at St. Charles Community College, no one was available to comment on how non-U.S. citizens are advised.

Undeterred by Missouri, Orozco decided to move to another state that would allow him to take the exam. he chose Kansas, along with Missouri, is one of 42 compact care states. “My first thought was, ‘I’ll move, test there, and get my multi-state license.’ Then I’ll be able to train in Missouri as well,” Orozco said. “Shortly after I got my license in Kansas, I tried to apply for certification in Missouri. “They said no again because he didn’t have a green card or US citizenship.”

Missouri’s nursing board says they are Subject to federal law prohibiting non-U.S. citizens from obtaining certain professional licensesRegistered nursing licenses included. St. Even if such a law exists, Missouri, like Kansas, Illinois, Arkansas and other states across the country, has the opportunity to make changes if it wants, said Kelly Gillespie, a health law professor at St. Louis University.

“(The Missouri board of nursing) is citing specific legislation from the late ’90s that says people who are not authorized to work or are not here legally are not eligible for certain public benefits, and those public benefits are defined to include occupational licensure,” Gillespie said. “But the gist of the story, and the reason why many states allow people like DACA recipients in these situations to get licenses, is that there is a subsection in that law that says a state can opt out of this ban. They can take a positive action to exit. “That’s what the permissive states have done, and they’ve done it in a few different ways.”

Orozco took extra steps to get herself licensed, even going so far as to get her license validated in Illinois, where she planned to practice as a registered nurse. He wants it too Share his story as a cautionary tale and push Missouri to reconsider banning DACA recipients and other non-U.S. citizens with a professional license. he started Change.org petition with over 16,000 signatures to support his cause, especially Missouri faces a serious nursing shortage.

The obstacles standing between Orozco and becoming a registered nurse in Missouri and the growing number of supporters of her petition strengthened her resolve.

“This shows that I’m not the only one who wants to make the change. A lot of people came forward and said, ‘This is ridiculous.’ “I will definitely sign with peace of mind because this is not fair,” he said. My biggest wish is that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

To learn more about how U.S. states allow DACA recipients like Alondra Orozco to become nurses, how she plans to continue her campaign, and her journey to become licensed in Illinois, listen to this video: St. Louis is on the air Open Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or click the play button below.

“St. Louis is on the air” to you St. It brings the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by Miya Norfleet, Emily Woodbury, Danny Wicentowski, Elaine Cha And Alex Heuer. Jada Jones He is our production assistant. sound engineer Aaron Doerr.

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