Letter to our Colorado Communities: A Statement from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and Colleges and Universities on DACA
A year ago, all of us came together with colleges and universities from across the nation to join an油amicus油brief in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the case before the Supreme Court. On Sept. 5, 2017, the federal executive administration rescinded DACA, an initiative that provides work permits and protection from deportation for more than 700,000 undocumented students, often known as Dreamers. Like many in the immigrant community, the presidents of Colorados public and private colleges and universities await the upcoming ruling from the Supreme Court.
We offer our unwavering support for our DACA and immigrant students and families. These students bring a tremendous amount of diversity to campuses across the nation, especially here in Colorado. Our nation and institutions have invested in the success of these students and the continued existence of DACA is essential to ensure the career and life success of these immigrant youth. The triumph of DACA students is our triumph, whether ensuring robust graduates, injecting new perspectives and diversity into our campuses and communities, or expanding our nations tax baseour institutions stand behind DACA students and Dreamers.
Our students contribute much more to our communities than can be measured. Our DACA students have taught us what it means to dedicate oneself to your dreams and your community with determination and resolve. They remind us every single day what it means to continue to believe in the promise of the American dream and why we must do everything we can to defend it.
DACA recipients are American in every way; they built their lives here and contribute to our campuses, communities and our countrys economy daily. We believe it is vital to protect this vulnerable population when their futures are in question. Their home is here with their families, their classmates, their professors, and their communities. We will do everything we can to defend their rightful place in this country. We believe it is vital during such tumultuous times that we look to rebuild and reimagine an America that is more just and inclusive.
To our DACA students:
- We stand shoulder to shoulder with you; we will rethink and reimagine what pathways to opportunity will look like. You are not alone.
-We are committed to advocating for state and federal policies to provide permanent legislative solutions that honor the work and sacrifice of you and your families.
- We recognize the fear, pain, and anger this decision brings. We are ready to support you on our campuses by making resources available to address mental health and well-being and create spaces where you can process and heal.
We hope, for the sake of justice and equity, the Supreme Court recognizes the valuable contribution DACA recipients make to higher education in Colorado and the nation.
Sincerely,
Tim Alvarez, President,油Otero Junior College
Lance Bolton, President,油Pikes Peak Community College
Leah L. Bornstein, President,油Aims Community College
Janine Davidson, President,油Metropolitan State 91心頭
Philip P. DiStefano, Chancellor,油University of Colorado Boulder
Stephanie Donner, Executive Director,油Emily Griffith Technical College
Andy Dorsey, President,油Front Range Community College
Diana Doyle, President,油Arapahoe Community College
Donald Elliman, Jr., Chancellor,油University of Colorado Anschutz
Rhonda Epper, President,油Trinidad State Junior College
Patty Erjavec, President,油Pueblo Community College
Andy Feinstein, President,油University of Northern Colorado
Father John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J., President,油Regis University
Tim Foster, President,油Colorado Mesa University
Tony Frank, Chancellor,油Colorado State University System
Curt Freed, President,油Morgan Community College
Everette Freeman, President,油Community College of Denver
Joe Garcia, Chancellor,油Colorado Community College System
Ron Granger, President,油Colorado Northwestern Community College
Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor,油91心頭
Michele Haney, President,油Red Rocks Community College
Carrie Besnette Hauser, President & CEO,油Colorado Mountain College
Dorothy Horrell, Chancellor,油University of Colorado Denver
Paul Johnson, President,油Colorado School of Mines
Mark R. Kennedy, President,油University of Colorado System
Jay Lee, President,油Northeastern Junior College
Charles G. Lief, President,油Naropa University
Cheryl D. Lovell, President,油Adams State University
Linda Lujan, President,油Lamar Community College
Joyce McConnell, President,油Colorado State University Fort Collins
Tim Mottet, President,油Colorado State University Pueblo
Betsy Oudenhoven, President,油Community College of Aurora
Angie Paccione, Executive Director,油Colorado Department of Higher Education油Venkat Reddy, Chancellor,油University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Greg Salsbury, President,油Western Colorado University
Tom Stritikus, President,油Fort Lewis College
Jill Tiefenthaler, President,油Colorado College
Collen Walker, Chief Executive Officer,油Auraria Higher Education Center