In this time of uncertainty about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection against deportation, I am writing to reiterate Columbia’s support both for our own students with DACA and for the DACA program. Today is the day that President Trump set for ending DACA – he announced last fall that anyone whose DACA status expired after March 5 would not be able to obtain a renewal.
Two court orders have kept DACA in place, for now, to allow those who have DACA status to seek renewals, which typically last two years. In a legal brief Columbia and other universities filed in December, we argued that ending DACA unjustly sidelines a group of students, undermines our educational mission and results in the loss of talented contributors to our nation.
Columbia has long welcomed undocumented students and supported the DACA program. We will continue to make this support clear in court, on Capitol Hill and in our own community. For more information about DACA and University resources for undocumented students, please click here.
Sincerely,
Suzanne B. Goldberg
Executive Vice President for University Life
Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law
Note: If you previously were granted deferred action under DACA, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services hasresumed accepting requests for renewal and has noted the policy - for those previously granted deferred action - will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017. However, requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA are not being accepted. Read more here.
