Updates Regarding Potential DACA Changes

From the President and Provost Regarding Today's DACA Announcement, Sept, 5. 2017

To the Faculty, Staff and Students of Case Western Reserve University:

In the wake of today’s White House announcement regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we want to assure our campus community of two points:

1. Dreamers are welcome here.
2. We oppose ending DACA, and will urge members of Congress to continue the program in the strongest possible terms.

DACA allows individuals to overcome legal obstacles never of their making. These people came to the United States as infants or children—many know no other country but ours. The program allows them to remain here to work, serve in the military, or attend college. Since it began, nearly 800,000 Dreamers have been able to pursue opportunities that will enable them to contribute to our country without fear of deportation.

We have seen firsthand the exceptional benefits of the growing international nature of our campus. We will continue to increase our global engagement, and embrace people of all racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and international backgrounds.

Earlier this year, we provided information on how Case Western Reserve supports and protect all members of our campus community. We want to repeat it again, as it is pertinent to Dreamers affected by any changes to the DACA program.

Case Western Reserve commits 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 when required by law.

Last fall, we joined more than 600 colleges and universities encouraging our country’s leaders to allow Dreamers to remain in the country while leaders developed a more permanent solution. In the spring, we joined more than 560 colleges and universities in signing a similar letter to President Trump. We will ask our congressional delegation to support the Dreamers, and we will continue to advocate for them through the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Education.

We are not the only ones on campus taking a stand on this issue. Today at 4 p.m., the student organization La Alianza will host a rally for the campus community in front of Adelbert Hall in support of DACA.

Finally, we want to remind students affected by today’s announcement that resources are available to them at the Center for International Affairs, University Health and Counseling Services, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Dean of Students team, and the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, among others.

You are all welcome here.

Sincerely,

Barbara R. Snyder
President

W.A. “Bud” Baeslack
Provost and Executive Vice President