Trump administration action on DACA

Together we are deeply saddened by and strongly disagree with the decision by President Trump today to effectively end the DACA program. This compassionless action imperils the futures of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers across our nation, including hundreds here on our campus who are pursuing the dream of a college education without fear of deportation.

We want undocumented students at UC Santa Cruz to know this: You do not stand alone. We are proud of your efforts and recognize your contributions to campus and to society. You are what makes America great, and we will do all in our power to help you.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has been a just and humane way for an estimated 800,000 undocumented immigrants to work or to better themselves through higher education—and to do so in the only country most of them have ever known. To end the program is an affront to our nation’s values. It also runs contrary to UC’s commitment to educational access and opportunity to all. These DACA students are, for all intents and purposes, Americans.

At UC Santa Cruz we offer strong support for undocumented students. In the coming months, we will look for more opportunities to strengthen these services in hopes of creating bright futures for all of our undocumented students and alumni.

We applaud the firm stance taken by UC President Janet Napolitano against the White House action, and stand with her in the belief that students should be admitted to UC based on their achievements and without regard to their immigration status.

Our elected leaders must now rise to this challenge and find a bipartisan legislative solution that will remove Dreamers from this needless turmoil.

Contact Chancellor George Blumenthal at chancellor@ucsc.edu. Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Marlene Tromp can be reached at cpevc@ucsc.edu.