UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank released a statement Tuesday opposing President Donald Trump’s proposed repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Trump’s controversial proposal, which was officially announced Tuesday and would throw out Obama-era protections for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, has been met largely with outrage from college administrators. Blank said repealing DACA “puts at risk a group of promising students at UW-Madison and at higher education institutions across the country.”
“These ‘dreamer’ students seek only what we all want for our children: the opportunity to pursue an education and a fulfilling career,” Blank said in the statement. “To threaten them now with deportation is unfair and, indeed not in our country’s best interest as businesses in Wisconsin and beyond continue to struggle to find workers in almost all occupations.”
Blank affirmed that UW-Madison would provide support to students who are concerned about how a DACA repeal would affect them or the campus community. She encouraged students to contact the Multicultural Student Center, International Student Services or International Faculty and Staff Services for more information.
Blank also reiterated that UW-Madison would not provide information on students’ or staff members’ immigration status to authorities unless required to do so by law. Additionally, she said that “the UW–Madison Police Department (UWPD) will not participate in immigration enforcement actions conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (ICE).”
Blank’s statement comes as university presidents across the country have voiced opposition to the DACA repeal. As many as 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children benefit from the program, and an estimated 10,000 undocumented immigrants graduate from college per year, according to the American Immigration Council.
Speaking on behalf of UW-Madison, Blank touted “dreamer” students’ contributions to UW-Madison, saying “they work hard, they pay taxes, and they are important to the vibrant life of the campus community.”
“We urge the administration and our congressional representatives to find a balanced approach that does not jeopardize the ability of our students to pursue their dreams and does not run counter to the core principles that our nation has held since its founding,” Blank said.
