News
OU’s President To Make Capitol Hill Push For DREAMers
By: WOUB Staff Writer
Posted on:
Ohio University president Duane Nellis said he will urge Ohio’s Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to protect undocumented immigrants who came to America as children and are now students.
Nellis made the comments in response to today’s announcement by the Trump administration that it is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Those in the program are called DREAMers in reference to the DREAM Act, created by the Obama administration in an effort to protect them.
“Tomorrow, I will go to Capitol Hill to advocate for all our students and urge our Congressional representatives, face-to-face to take action to protect the DREAMers immediately,” Nellis was quoted as saying in a news release by the university. “We will continue to monitor these national discussions and will keep the University community informed of important developments as they unfold.”
Nellis stated in the release that the university has been advocating for its DACA students since last fall and he “remains steadfast in my commitment to protect the rights of all of our students.”
“Ending the (DACA) program protections threatens to undermine Ohio University’s commitment to fair treatment and inclusivity for all of our students,” Nellis stated.
People who are accepted into the program are able to defer deportation for two years, secure work permits, obtain driver’s licenses, and enroll in college.