President Fuchs pledges support to students affected by DACA withdrawal
What won’t he do?
W. Kent Fuchs has reaffirmed his support for students and staff affected by the Trump administration's decision on the DACA program.
In a campus-wide email, he wrote:
“With the U.S. administration’s decision today to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, I want to reaffirm the University of Florida’s commitment to our students of undocumented parents and our support for this program. We join the Association of American Universities (AAU) and hundreds of other colleges in support of DACA students and urge Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to permanently protect these young men and women from deportation and ensure they can continue to contribute their talents to America.”
He further assured students and employees affected by the change will still have access to UF’s resources and a new website made specifically to compile all the answers they need.
What is the DACA program?
Back in 2012 former President Barrack Obama made an executive order to implement the DACA program, which allows eligible illegal immigrants to remain in the US for up to two years without deportation. The US Citizen and Immigration Services website list out the requirements for eligibility:
1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
3. Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4. Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Why is it changing?
Several governors have opposed DACA from the beginning and today President Trump’s administration announced that it is ending and being rescinded. The Department of Homeland Security will not process any new applications, but they will keep renewing permits for anyone who’s DACA status will expire in the next six months.