La Sierra University Statement on DACA Decision

On Sept. 5, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, under direction from the White House, announced the rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which provides time-limited protection from deportation of undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. The White House tasked Congress with devising a legislative solution within the next six months as a part of an immigration overhaul while allowing those currently covered by DACA to continue to file for extensions.

DACA is an executive order issued by President Barak Obama in June 2012 which grants permission to undocumented individuals under age 31 who arrived in the U.S. before age 16 to work and attend school in the U.S. The order does not provide lawful status, but defers removal action for two years, subject to renewal. Nearly 800,000 people are currently registered in the program. According to media reports, California is home to the most DACA recipients of any state with 222,795 young adults covered to pursue work or education.

Following are key points to keep in mind concerning the Sept. 5 decision:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is no longer accepting new DACA applications.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is not accepting new advance parole applications for those covered by DACA who wish to travel abroad, and will administratively close all pending applications.

            *La Sierra University strongly advises DACA students who have current advance parole to avoid traveling outside of the country.

• Beginning March 6, absent congressional intervention, DACA recipients will begin losing their deportation protections as their two-year permits expire.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website states the agency is processing renewal requests received by Oct. 5 from DACA-covered individuals whose permits expire between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process first-time DACA applications received prior to Sept. 5.

• The California Dream Act still allows AB 540 eligible students to receive the Cal Grant.

• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents La Sierra University from providing third parties with the citizenship or immigration status of its students unless a federally-mandated exception applies, or unless the university is directed to provide such information by a court order. Additional information about FERPA is available here: lasierra.edu/records-office/ferpa/.

La Sierra University recognizes and greatly sympathizes with the anxiety and distress such a decision is certain to cause those covered by the DACA program. The prospect of being forced to give up cherished plans and goals, to leave home, family and friends and chart a new path in a land that is most certainly foreign by experience must be a daunting and frightening proposition.

As such, the university will provide whatever support it is able to give its DACA-covered family members. This commitment is reflected in action taken last November on behalf of our students when La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey joined more than 600 college and university presidents around the country in signing a statement organized by Pomona College which called on the United States government to uphold and expand the DACA program.

President Wisbey has also been in contact personally with elected officials asking for the preservation of DACA through legislation.

Additionally, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities which represents the chief executives of California’s 79 private, nonprofit colleges and universities on issues of public policy, including La Sierra University, stated on Sept. 5 that it planned to send a joint letter to Congress from presidents and chancellors of the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges and the California Department of Education. The letter encourages Congress to quickly pass the DREAM Act, bipartisan legislation “which would provide long-term security for Dreamers to continue to live and contribute to their local communities and, following a rigorous process, be eligible to apply for American citizenship.”

La Sierra is proud of its commitment to diversity and rich legacy in advocating for social justice, a history that is replete with examples including the endeavors of former La Sierra College President Erwin E. Cossentine who fought for the release of Japanese-American students held in internment camps during World War II. These long-standing foundational values are visualized with the Path of the Just walkway created along our campus mall by the late humanitarian advocate and Religion and Society Professor Charles Teel who sought to honor such civil and human rights luminaries as South African activist Desmond Tutu and German pastor and anti-fascist Dietrich Bonheiffer.

It is because of these values, and it is in keeping with our university’s mission that the university stands in solidarity and proud support of its students who are enrolled through the DACA program.

• For further information and assistance related to the DACA decision contact the La Sierra University Office of International Student Services at 951-785-2919.

• Information is also available at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website: https://www.dhs.gov/ 

• A Department of Homeland Security DACA question-and-answer document is available at: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/09/05/frequently-asked-questions-rescission-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca

• The Mission Asset Fund (MAF) announced that it will provide $1 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 Dreamers, to pay for their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals, by the October 5 deadline.

• California Department of Social Services, Immigration Services: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Immigration-Services

• Those in need of counseling may call La Sierra University Student Wellness Services at 951-785-2011.