Chancellor's Communiqué
A Positive Step Forward for DACA, 6-18-2020
Dear CU Denver Community,
Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold the executive order that created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which enables access to education and work visas for about 700,000 immigrants, known as Dreamers.
This is welcome news for our Lynx community, which is and has over the years been enriched by the presence of our Dreamers and immigrant students. They contribute so much, both to the diversity of perspectives and experiences on our campus and in our society and also to our economy. Having built their lives here, they remind us daily of what it means to believe in the American Dream, and our responsibility to defend it. Earlier today I joined CU President Mark Kennedy and the other CU campus chancellors in supporting our DACA students in light of the Court’s decision and we joined with other Colorado higher education leaders to reaffirm our unwavering support of these students and their families.
While we are celebrating today’s news, we also must continue to work with our Congressional delegation to find a permanent solution for DACA students.
If you are looking for a way to support DACA students in our community, you may contribute to the CU Dream Scholarship fund. Initiated in part by the CU Regents, this fund helps students—many of whom are working while going to school—to offset tuition and living expenses because they are ineligible for federal financial aid.
Though not permanent, today’s decision is a heartening one for all of us who value diversity, inclusion, and equal access to education for all. We will continue to urge our government representatives to create a lasting, comprehensive solution for these vital members of our community.
Dorothy Horrell
Chancellor
Additional Resources for Students
Our Undocumented Student Services (USS) office website provides resources for undocumented students in Colorado.
Students may also contact USS’s Dominic F. Martinez, Ed.D. (dominic.martinez@cuanschutz.edu; 303-724-8004) or Giselle Bustamante (giselle.bustamante@ucdenver.edu; 303-315-1883).
In addition, Frank Kim in our Student and Community Counseling Center (franklin.kim@ucdenver.edu; 303-315-7277) is available to talk with students in confidence should they so desire.