Several colleges across the country professed their support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program Sunday, and called on President Donald Trump to maintain it.
The University of Michigan, Wesleyan University, San Diego State University and other institutions of higher education issued statements defending the program, which enables some illegal immigrants that entered the U.S. as minors to apply for a work permit and obtain a renewable two-year period of deferred actions.
“I stand with hundreds of universities across the country – and Congressional, state, business, and community leaders from both parties – to urge President Trump to continue the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program,” said Mark Schlissel, president of the University of Michigan, “so our students can continue to dream and contribute to our nation’s intellectual and economic leadership.”
Schlissel informed “all students” that he thought their chance to study at the school was both “the right thing to do and in our nation’s best interest.”
Arizona State University’s president, Michael M. Crowe, expressed a similar sentiment, and noted that the Arizona constitution did not distinguish between types of students and only instructed the education of “all the children of the state.”
“Eliminating DACA would be a terrible step backward, making more vulnerable young people who should instead be given every opportunity to make the most of their lives and contribute to their communities,” said Michael S. Roth, president of Wesleyan University. “I want to reiterate that Wesleyan has welcomed and will continue to welcome students to apply for admission and, if accepted, to enroll regardless of their immigration status.”
The statement issued by San Diego State University harps on the school’s status as “one of the most diverse universities in this country.” The university claims that illegal immigrant students have succeeded both academically and as “good citizens.”
Trump will reportedly announce his decision Tuesday to end DACA and provide Congress a six-month delay of its enactment. (RELATED: REPORT: Trump Will Be Ending DACA With A 6-Month Delay)
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to the University of Michigan, Wesleyan University, San Diego State University, and Arizona State University for comment, but received none in time for press.
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