Letter to President Trump Concerning DACA

Dear Mr. President:

As President of Dartmouth College, I write to express the College's deepest concern over recent reports suggesting that the Administration is considering the potential elimination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. For the good of our nation, I urge you to continue DACA in its current form and to do everything in your power to defend it.

The undocumented members of our academic community are not only outstanding students; they are exceptional individuals who have persevered through unprecedented challenges in pursuit of excellence in higher learning with the goal of making positive contributions to society as future leaders in their fields.

The availability of a legal status through DACA has allowed them to pursue these goals freely and without fear as active, engaged and upstanding members of our communities and positive contributors to our state and local economies.

Given that most of these students came to our country as young children, America is the only home they've ever known. To deny them the opportunity to continue to advance their studies is to deprive our country of the innovation, determination and diversity of human talent that make America the greatest and most prosperous country in the world.

Please take every action necessary to maintain and defend DACA and ensure that we, as a nation, can continue to harness the talents of these bright young people, who want nothing more than to do our country proud.

Sincerely,

Philip J. Hanlon
President