SPU President Pledges Support to Undocumented Students

Seattle Pacific University President Dan Martin joined other college leaders in asking President Trump to allow DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students to continue working and studying in the United States as Congress debates new legislation on their status.

The letter sent to President Trump on March 16 was signed by hundreds of college presidents along with higher education associations including CCCU, ACE, CIC, and NAICU, 

In January, bipartisan legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate which would provide work authorization and relief from deportation for three years to individuals who are eligible for the DACA Initiative, created in 2012 by the Department of Homeland Security.

 The letter states in part:

"…. many of these young people now live in fear that the (DACA) program will be rolled back or revoked. In order to lift this cloud of fear, we ask that you commit to allowing these productive and high-achieving individuals to continue to work and study while your administration and Congress arrive at a permanent solution. The higher education community is eager to work with you to find a path forward."

Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2017