Colleges and universities across the country are speaking up in support of protecting undocumented students who were until now protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Below is an op-ed written with three other college presidents in our area– John DeGioia (Georgetown), DeRionne Pollard (Montgomery College), Scott Ralls (Northern Virginia Community College). The accompanying video is from our “Dreamers Making a Difference on Campuses and in Communities” discussion that took place this morning at Georgetown. An earlier op-ed on the subject was published in August by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The American Council on Education provides some useful resources in their website.
#protect DREAMers
Here is the op-ed appeared today in The Hill:
One month ago, the lives of 800,000 young people around our nation were put in jeopardy, with the decision by the White House to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This decision fails to understand the overwhelmingly positive impact that the DACA program has had for so many students, and the devastating consequences that rescinding it will have on them, their families, our schools, our communities and our country.
We cannot set aside the invaluable contributions of these students and their passion and commitment to the work of our colleges and our country. Continue reading
And here is the video. The program starts at the 16-minute mark. I particularly encourage you to listen to remarks from Georgetown student Luis Gonzalez at the 23-minute mark.
https://www.facebook.com/georgetownuniv/videos/10154789229761246/