Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

This archived article was written by: Dean Thacker

Pres. Donald Trump decided to revoke the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Sept. 5th. Over 400,00 students across america had many thoughts and fears regarding DACA.
These fears have also been fears of the eight public universities and colleges of Utah. The presidents of these institutions came out with a public release regarding their support for DACA on Sept. 6th.
Later on September ___, all 11 student body presidents, from all public and privates collegiate institutions of Utah issued a press release in support of DACA and are pushing Utah’s state senators and representatives to support DACA as well.
This is the letter.
Dear Sen. Hatch, Senator Lee, Representative Bishop, Representative Love, and Representative Stewart,
We, the students of higher education in Utah, write to you to express our strong disagreement with President Trump’s revocation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As members of your constituency, we urge you to challenge President Trump’s directive to rescind the program, and defend the rights of over 800,000 DACA recipients, hundreds of which are students in our state.
One of the greatest attributes of higher education is the willingness and aspiration to exchange and accept diverse ideas and perspectives. Each one of our institutions in Utah is committed to including and respecting people of all backgrounds and identities. We remain entrusted to that commitment despite a polarized political climate, and we ask that you reflect our values of inclusivity as our Congressional representatives.
Notwithstanding the fact that DACA recipients contribute to our country in valuable ways, we believe their contributions should not be the sole reason we fight to protect them. Like all citizens, they deserve the same dignity and esteem that we afford any and all Americans. DACA recipients came to this country to escape unjust circumstances and unimaginable mistreatment. We don’t blame them, nor their parents for coming to the United States to seek a better life.
As the task of crafting meaningful legislation now rests in your hands, we ask that you make protecting DACA recipients a priority. DACA, in and of itself, falls short of many protections we would like to see for undocumented immigrants, but rolling back their current protections goes against who we are as students of higher education, Utahns, and Americans.
We reiterate our steadfast support and solidarity for our peers and their families who are DACA recipients. We proudly stand alongside them and ask that you will too.
If you are also in support of DACA please join us by writing our senators and representatives; their contact information is below.
Sen. Hatch
Salt Lake City Phone: (801) 524-4380
Washington D.C. Phone: (202) 224-5251
Also visit his website for more information.
Sen. Lee
Salt Lake City Phone: (801) 524-5933
Washington D.C. Phone: (202) 224-5444
Also visit his website for more information.
Rep. Bishop
Ogden Office Phone: (801) 625-0107
Washington D.C. Phone: (202) 225-0453
Also visit his website for more information.
Rep. Love
West Jordan Office Phone: (801) 996-8729
Washington D.C. Phone: (202) 225-3011
Also visit her website for more information.
Rep. Stewart
Salt Lake City Office Phone: (801) 364-5550
Washington D.C. Phone: (202) 225-9730
Also visit his website for more information.