Reaffirming support for DACA

In a letter to President Trump, Acting President Sonya Stephens reaffirms the College's unwavering support for the Deferred Action for the Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) and urges him to commit to a long-term solution allowing DACA students to remain in the country.

August 31, 2017

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write today to reaffirm our unwavering support for the Deferred Action for the Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) and to request that you craft and institute a more permanent legislative solution.

DACA has proven itself to be of significant benefit not only to hundreds of thousands of students, but also to the nation as a whole. The program provides access to educational and employment opportunities for students, while building pathways for them to pursue the American dream. In the process, they become fully engaged contributors to the economies and communities in which they live and work and demonstrate their dedication to this country and its ideals.

At Mount Holyoke College, our mission is to draw students from all backgrounds into an exceptionally diverse and inclusive learning environment and to prepare them for purposeful engagement in the world. Our community is enriched by the experiences and intellectual contributions of talented DACA students who must often overcome great obstacles and demonstrate significant perseverance to pursue their studies and their goals. These committed young people need your support and assistance to remain in the country they know as home, and to fulfill their potential here.

We respectfully request that you work with our leaders in Washington, D.C., and commit to a long-term solution that allows these young people to remain and to have the opportunity to contribute to our campuses, to our communities, and to our country.

Sincerely,

Sonya Stephens
Acting President