The message below was emailed to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community on April 10, 2018.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As legislative solutions to the repeal of the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continue to evade lawmakers, and in the wake of recent statements from the White House threatening the Dreamers supported by this program, I am mindful that some in our community feel vulnerable. I write today to share what the College is doing.
Last month, I joined the , a group of college and university presidents who seek to create and endorse policies that welcome and support immigrant, undocumented and international students. As a group, we are joining our voices to advocate for the continuation of DACA. Â鶹ÊÓƵ is a signatory to an amicus brief that calls on the courts to recognize the value of continuing programs for Dreamers. This brief is scheduled to be filed on April 11 in the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. You can find a list of our advocacy efforts on our U.S. Immigration Policy Information page.
This spring, we will continue to prepare key staff members who may receive immigration inquiries regarding how best to respond to any such inquiries. Meanwhile, our support for students and our past practices on campus remain constant. College personnel will not release information about students’ citizenship or immigration status unless presented with a subpoena or similar legal requirement. Campus Safety will not be involved with enforcing federal immigration laws, including Green Card and visa issues, nor will they inquire about or record a student’s immigration status when interacting with students. Law enforcement officials seeking to come on campus are expected to check in first with Campus Safety and to present a warrant or other enforceable legal instrument. Â鶹ÊÓƵ will continue to admit and meet full, demonstrated financial need for students without regard for their nationality or immigration status.
These practices are described in full on Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s U.S. Immigration Policy Information page, which also includes contact information for those with questions and for those who want to take an active role in this bipartisan effort.
As always, I am heartened by and thank you for the gestures – both large and small – by which you support one another during this challenging time.
With best wishes,
Kim Cassidy
President, Â鶹ÊÓƵ College