Haverford Supports DACA

Yesterday, I wrote to President Donald Trump to urge the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a five-year-old initiative that offers administrative relief from deportation for certain eligible undocumented youth brought to the United States. That program's future is now in jeopardy.

As both educator and citizen, I have witnessed the extraordinary benefits to our communities made possible by DACA’s availability to some 800,000 hard-working students and young professionals. By diligently pursuing educational opportunity and offering various forms of national service, DACA’s “dreamers” provide shining examples of how uplift for our outstanding youth serves the economic and civic interests of the whole country. Termination of the DACA program would therefore be both a grave injustice and a squandering of smart investment for the nation’s future. By contrast, continuation of DACA would demonstrate both compassion and wisdom, setting us on course for an effective immigration policy.

Here at Haverford, we will continue to uphold the College's principles of care, trust, and respect in supporting all members of this community. With regard to community members who might be affected by the administration's decision on DACA, we will continue to be guided by the spirit and processes articulated in the Board of Managers’ resolution supporting non-U.S. citizens adopted late last year. We will reach out to such community members to offer forms of support appropriate to their individual situations. We will also continue to work with other educational and civic leaders in support of DACA recipients and the program, in which regard we recently wrote the administration alongside leaders from 40 other Quaker-affliated schools.

Haverford College remains steadfast in its commitment to respecting and safeguarding each and every member of this community, as well as to the common dignity of all people. I invite us all to reflect on the shared ideals underlying this commitment.