Today’s DACA Announcement

Despite pleas in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from leaders in education, government, business, religion, and many other sectors, the Trump administration announced today that it is ending the program, effective in six months. Rescinding DACA, which protects undocumented people brought to the United States as children, would affect nearly 800,000 young people in this country, who will soon begin to lose their protected status. Wellesley opposes this decision in the strongest possible terms and affirms our support for all “Dreamers.”

DACA has provided vital hope and opportunity to young people who have grown up here. Many of the program’s “Dreamers” are valued members of educational communities across the United States, enriching our learning environments and helping to advance scholarship and discovery, and thereby enriching our country and the world.

To our community members and their families who may be affected by this change and are concerned about the future, please know that our commitment to do all we can to support you remains unwavering. We stand together at this difficult time. The College’s Working Group on the Effects of Immigration Policy on the Wellesley Community is steadfast in its work to help ensure a learning environment free from fear—for students, faculty, and staff alike. This is a responsibility we take with the utmost seriousness. I have asked the working group to move forward in educating and supporting our community during this time, and to determine how we may best engage in the legislative process likely to unfold over the next six months.

We are deeply troubled by the DACA decision and all its attendant negative repercussions. As an institution of higher education, one founded on the values of social justice and equal opportunity, Wellesley is committed to the principle that colleges and universities should be diverse and open communities where students feel safe and supported so that they may achieve their highest potential.

These are times when our shared values unify us, bring us clarity, and give us strength.