Last week, I traveled to Washington, DC as part of a “Fly In” effort to join college presidents, community leaders, students, and immigration advocates to urge the White House and Congress to pass legislation that would create a permanent pathway to citizenship for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and other undocumented students.
In meetings with our representatives, we impressed upon them the urgency to pass this bipartisan legislation before Congress goes home for the holidays and once again leaves these students and recent graduates without the protections and opportunities they expect and deserve. Today, I’d like you to join me in that effort.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy ensures that more than 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants — commonly referred to as “Dreamers” — who grew up in the United States, are protected from deportation and are able to work lawfully and attend college. These Dreamers are vital members of our communities and essential to a talented and education workforce.
Hundreds of thousands of college students, thriving young immigrants who grew up in the United States, will be at risk of losing the only home they know, if DACA is not preserved. Our colleges and universities will lose their scholarship and contributions to many fields of study, and our country will lose the benefit of their contribution to a healthy and dynamic workforce and society.
This is an issue that hits close to home for us here at BMCC. DACA recipients, and all of our current undocument students, have made a profound impact at our college. DACA recipients and all our current undocumented students have made a profound impact at our college. They are our classmates, students, and friends. And they are eager to complete their education and enter the workforce to pursue meaningful careers that pay family-sustaining wages. In short, they exemplify success at BMCC.
Now it is time for us all to stand up for these students and ask Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to create a permanent pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and all of these Dreamers.
Please join me by SENDING A QUICK MESSAGE of support to your Member of Congress now!
Sincerely,
Anthony E. Munroe
President, Borough of Manhattan Community College
