In a recent edition of the National Catholic Reporter (NCR), the newspaper noted that it had received the following statement for the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Conference of Education Deans which was signed by 19 members of that conference which is comprised of deans and professors for schools of education at Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States:
“As the education deans of the nation’s Jesuit colleges and universities, we are compelled to join our university presidents and others who have raised their collective voices to support our DACA students. Through our work, we prepare the teachers, principals, and other education support providers for the youth of our nation. The Jesuit education tradition values the right of all peoples to a meaningful and quality education, which is transformative for both the learner and the teacher. Our DACA students are no exception. Through no fault of their own, they came to the United States in search of opportunities. They have been documented and thoroughly vetted, are among our most successful students, and are preparing for positions of leadership and service in various industries in the United States. Deporting these young people just as they are poised to make strong contributions to this country – after investing so many resources to educate them in our public schools – is poor public policy and not in the public interest.
“As education leaders, we are aware of the unintended consequences that deportation, or even the threat of deportation, has on an entire school community. For example, in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – the second largest in the country – roughly one in four students is undocumented or has a parent who is undocumented. This reality forces the question – what are the unintended consequences for our school communities under a constant threat of deportation?
“DACA students contribute greatly to the common good of American society. The United States of America is their home. They participated in the DACA program in good faith and have much to offer this country through their hard work and talent. We cannot betray them by ending the DACA program and sending them to countries they do not even know. As a society, we cannot afford the unintended educational consequences such policy actions would have. We urge our leaders to find a permanent solution for the DACA program for the benefit of our youth and our country.“