University of California, California State University, and California Community College system leaders communicated to Donald Trump through a letter asking him to maintain a program that will allow undocumented minors from deportation to pursue higher education.
President Barack Obama in 2012 enacted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that provides protection for individuals who were brought to the United States by their parents when they were younger than 16. The provision requires that they have not been convicted of a serious crime.
Trump has strongly advocated the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants that has bothered immigrant communities, as reported by Long Beach Patch.
Timothy White, Janet Napolitano, and Eloy Ortiz Oakley, CSU Chancellor, UC President, and CCC Chancellor, respectively urged Trump to maintain the DACA program to permit these young people to
have the chance to continue college education and bring positive change to their communities and country.
The letter from the aforementioned institutions reported that their systems have thousands of DACA students that are enrolled in their institutions. These students are contributing and constructive members of their respective communities. The letter further reiterates that these individuals should be permitted to realize their dream of higher education without fearing deportation or being arrested.
The said education leaders believe that there will be session for dialogues regarding immigration reform and they look forward to discuss a healthy conversation with the president-elect.
Furthermore, the letter is a medium to send Trump the growing sentiment of students and immigration-advocacy groups that college institutions be declared as "sanctuaries" that are off-limits to immigration authorities.
Timothy White has sent communication to CSU students and staff refusing to declare the campuses "sanctuaries," but assures that the university will not honor hold requests of the immigration or team up with law-enforcement agencies trying to enforce federal immigration laws.
University of California has created an ad hoc committee to study DACA and immigration issues and the possible influence on students.
