Whittier College – along with more than 70 other member institutions of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration – signed onto an amicus brief supporting plaintiffs who are challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (“DACA”) program.
Filed in early April, the document presents compelling evidence of the vital role the DACA program plays in higher education, enabling thousands of previously undocumented students to successfully pursue a college degree while contributing significantly to their campuses, communities, and the nation. The brief includes the story of Whittier student Gaby Gil ’18, who was able to make her dreams of attending college a reality with the help of the program.
The brief states that DACA students “form a key part of our campus life and as institutions we benefit greatly from the energy and academic excellence they bring.”
“At Whittier, we continue to stand in support of DACA college students on our campus and across the country,” said President Sharon Herzberger, who is a member of the Alliance. “It is imperative that students like Gaby continue to have the opportunity to obtain a higher education and contribute to our society.”
Whittier and the other college and university signatories represent the broad coalition of institutions whose leaders are also members of the Presidents’ Alliance.
A court date for the case to be heard has not yet been set.
About the President’s Alliance
The Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings together American college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities, and supporting policies that create a welcoming environment for immigrant, undocumented and international students on our campuses. The Presidents’ Alliance supports policies and practices that create a welcoming environment for immigrant, undocumented and international students on U.S. campuses. Launched in December 2017, this non-partisan organization includes more than 300 college and university presidents and chancellors from across the country to date. The Presidents’ Alliance invites college and university presidents and chancellors who endorse the principles in the Alliance’s Founding Statement to join.
