BOSTON -- University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan and the chancellors of the five UMass campuses today issued a statement calling on Congress to find a permanent legislative solution to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
The statement followed a letter sent by the six UMass leaders to the Massachusetts congressional delegation this week outlining how the termination of DACA affects UMass and its students.
UMass leadership statement:
"On behalf of the five-campus, 75,000-student University of Massachusetts system, we call on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that protects the 'Dreamers' so that they may remain in the United States without fear of deportation. DACA has allowed 'Dreamers' to emerge from the shadows to achieve their life goals, including the pursuit of higher education. These hardworking young people have made wide-ranging contributions to our campuses. Without a permanent legislative solution, roughly 800,000 DACA recipients are threatened with a return to the shadows, loss of access to legal employment and education, and the dread of possible deportation. We urge Congress to quickly act on bipartisan legislation to protect the 'Dreamers' and their contributions to academic institutions and to society as a whole."
UMass President Marty Meehan
UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy
UMass Boston Interim Chancellor Barry Mills
UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert Johnson
UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney
UMass Medical School Chancellor Michael Collins