ASU president stands in solidarity with DACA students
President Crow released an email to students making it clear that DACA and Dream Act students are here to stay
Anyone who hasn’t lived under a rock in the past six months knows that a significant part of his election campaign was targeting immigrants, with threats of deportation and the almighty — yet economically unfeasible — wall, it is no surprise that Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate the program on day one of his administration.
In a display of solidarity, Michael Crow, President of ASU, sent an email to every student regarding the matter, claiming the university’s commitment to DACA students and DREAMers remained unchanged.
President Crow at a commencement address
For those unaware, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a program set up in 2012 by President Obama. DACA allows young immigrants to obtain a drivers license, work permits, and temporary relief from deportation, provided they meet specific requirements. Sounds great, right? The thing is, since it is a program and not a law, it can be terminated at any time by the President. I think you can see where this is going.
Since Nov. 8 when Donald Trump won (thanks to the logic of the Electoral College overpowering the majority vote), racist, homophobic and hateful behavior has propagated throughout the US. Trump opposes DACA and called Obama’s executive orders on DACA “one of the most unconstitutional actions ever undertaken by a President.”
An excerpt from Crow’s email read, “We recognize that DACA students are nevertheless anxious and concerned about their future. Therefore, ASU will make counseling services available to them on a confidential basis. If DACA is eliminated, we will rise to the challenge. ASU is a convening force in the community for good and for change. If students lose the status that makes them eligible for in-state tuition, ASU will convene and engage the community on this issue to seek financial support for the continued study of students at ASU who graduated from Arizona high schools and who are qualified to attend the state universities — regardless of their immigration status.”
Belen Sisa, an ASU student under the DACA program released the following statement: “”I think that President Crow’s email is a great step and message in the right direction that ASU stands by their students and the continuation of their education no matter what their legal status is. Hopefully it’ll open conversations to commitments of making Arizona State University a sanctuary campus for DACA, Muslim, and LGBTQ students and their families.”
Belen Sisa
With a future of uncertainty ahead for many undocumented immigrants, it’s brilliant to see a show of support from somebody in such a position of power.