Chancellor Rosa and Commissioner Elia Issue Statement in Support of DACA

Dreamers, brought to America as children, want nothing more than to continue giving back and contributing as productive, hard-working, tax-paying members of our communities. Many of these young Dreamers now live in daily fear that they may lose their jobs, be forced to drop out of college or even be deported. This is the only country many of them have ever known; this is their America.

Last year, the Board of Regents voted to allow eligible Dreamers to obtain teaching certifications and professional licenses. It was the right thing to do morally and will benefit our state economically as well. New York is facing a teacher shortage and Dreamers are every bit as qualified to become effective educators as anyone. But now, because of political gamesmanship, the DACA program is in peril. And the ability of our Dreamers to continue contributing to American society is in jeopardy as well. 

Many Americans recognize the positive impact that Dreamers have on our society and our economy. Just yesterday, hundreds of top executives from some of our nation’s leading companies, tech firms, business alliances and academic institutions urged President Trump to preserve the DACA policy, noting that, “Dreamers are vital to the future of our companies and our economy. They are part of why we will continue to have a global competitive advantage.”

We could not agree more. Ending a policy that is just, humane and economically advantageous to score cheap political points is shortsighted, cruel and bad public policy. We will continue to fight for our Dreamers because it is the right thing to do.

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