Keep the Dream Alive

Leaders of the State University of New York issued a statement in support of DACA. (Photo by Silvia Gualdi)

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 6, 2017) — The State University of New York on Tuesday issued a statement denouncing President Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and supporting the more than 40,000 young undocumented residents of New York State.

DACA is an executive order signed by former President Obama in 2012 that protects from deportation the nearly 800,000 young immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children. The program allows people who arrived in the United States before they were 16 and who have lived here since 2007 – referred to as “dreamers” – to register for protected status. DACA is not a path to citizenship, but those registered can get driver’s licenses, go to college and work legally.

“The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is the American Dream in motion,” SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall and Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson said in a joint statement. “We are extremely disappointed to learn that this important program could come to an end without a fair and permanent solution for those who would be impacted. We urge Congress to act swiftly and decisively to protect the earned rights of DACA enrollees.”

President Trump’s action would phase out DACA in six months, giving Congress a window to develop legislation regarding the “dreamers.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said New York would use the federal government to prevent the end of DACA and protect New York’s “dreamers.”

The McCall-Johnson statement also said: “Together with leadership across our 64 colleges and universities and our colleagues nationally, SUNY wholly supports efforts by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to protect New York's 42,000 DACA enrollees so that they may continue to live the American Dream. SUNY’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will not falter.”

UAlbany’s Interim President James R. Stellar also issued a statement in support of DACA.

“As part of our commitment to inclusive excellence, UAlbany continues to strongly support students who are beneficiaries of DACA,” Stellar said, “We stand with SUNY and Governor Cuomo against the Trump Administration’s plan to rescind DACA, and we urge Congress to keep these critical protections in place.”

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