SAN ANTONIO, TX – December 22, 2016 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and more than 25 organizations representing higher education and Latino communities signed and sent a letter on December 19, 2016, to President-elect Trump urging continued support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and calling for passage of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) legislation in the 115th Congress.
The letter outlined the following:
Among the estimated 11 million undocumented residents, there are many Hispanic young people known as DREAMers brought to the U.S. as children and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and courts the right to primary and secondary education, who find themselves handicapped by their immigration status in pursuing a higher education.
The DREAM Act was first introduced by Senators Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, in 2001, but has failed to be enacted. President Obama’s DACA order made it possible for some 750,000 young people to come out of the shadows, go to college and contribute to American society.
The letter states that because DACA is only a stopgap measure, the passage of the DREAM Act and ultimately fair, just, and comprehensive immigration reform are needed in the 115th Congress.
“The DREAMers are a key segment of America’s talent pool: they have succeeded in American PK-12 schools, they have overcome obstacles to pursue further education and they continue to make contributions towards our nation’s success,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.
The organizations that have signed this letter represent thousands of institutions of higher education and communities across the nation:
AACRAO – American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
AACU – Association of American Colleges and Universities
AASCU – American Association of State Colleges and Universities
AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges *
ACPA – American College Personnel Association
AIHEC – American Indian Higher Education Consortium
APIACU – Asian American and Pacific Islander Association of Colleges and Universities
ARL – The Association of Research Libraries
ASPIRA Association
Casa de Esperanza
CCCU – Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
CGS – Council of Graduate Schools
CHCI – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute *
COE – Counsel for Opportunity in Education
CNC – Cuban American National Council
HNBA – Hispanic National Bar Association
LCLAA – Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF)
LULAC – League of United Latin American Citizens
LULAC – League of United Latin American Citizens, Councils of Indiana
MANA – A National Latina Organization
NACAC – National Association for College Admission Counseling
NACUBO – National Association of College and University Business Officers
NAFEO – National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education *
NAHFE – National Association for Hispanic Federal Executives
NASFAA – National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
NACOPRW – National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc.
NHMA – National Hispanic Medical Association *
NCLR – National Council of La Raza
SER (Service, Employment, and Redevelopment) National Inc.
The University of Arizona
U.S.-Mexico Foundation *
WICHE – Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
*Added after the letter was mailed out
About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 470 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Additional information is available at www.hacu.net.