To the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Community:
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ remains in steadfast support of the nation’s more than 616,000 Dreamers who are protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, despite a ruling by a federal judge on Friday, July 16 that deemed the program unlawful.
Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the U.S. District Court in Houston wrote that there would be no immediate impact to current DACA recipients and that, for the time being, they may stay and work in the country and renew their DACA protections. He also ruled that while the Department of Homeland Security may continue to accept new applications, the agency may not approve new DACA applications.
As we have shared in the past, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ has seen firsthand the exceptional benefits of the growing international nature of our campus. We will continue to increase our global engagement and embrace all people.
The university once again underscores its commitment to:
- welcome and support students without regard to their immigration status;
- continue to admit students consistent with our non-discrimination policy; and
- maintain the privacy of student records (including documented or immigration status), releasing only such information with the student’s consent or when required by law.
Further, we support the advocacy by the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which today called on Sens. Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell to . The group, an alliance of American college and university leaders, is dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact the country’s students, campuses and communities.
We will continue to monitor this developing situation. Members of our campus community who have questions or would like more information can learn more at the Center for International Affairs, University Health and Counseling Services, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, among others.
Today and always, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ will be a place of welcoming and belonging for all.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kaler
President
Ben Vinson III
Provost and Executive Vice President