To: The Wellesley Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: Supporting “Dreamers” and International Students
Date: October 22, 2019
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments next month on the Trump administration’s decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Wellesley has joined 165 universities and colleges from 32 states and the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief opposing the decision. The effort was organized by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
Wellesley is proud to stand with our peers to argue that ending DACA would hurt students, campuses, and the country. Many of the DACA program’s “Dreamers” are valued members of educational communities across the United States. They play vital roles in advancing scholarship and discovery, and they enrich our country.
Wellesley is committed to making its voice heard on immigration and other issues affecting our community and our educational mission. Under the leadership of our general counsel, Karen Petrulakis, Wellesley recently joined with other Massachusetts colleges and universities in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing concerns about recent federal immigration policies that are making it increasingly difficult for educational institutions to attract and retain international students, faculty, and researchers. In addition to participating in several previous amicus efforts related to DACA, Wellesley has joined amicus briefs related to other immigration policies, including one articulating the harms to international scholars and students facing re-entry bans due to the unlawful presence policy, and has committed to joining an amicus brief supporting the continued existence of optional practical training (OPT) so that our international students can benefit from experiential learning opportunities. The OPT brief will be filed on October 25.
Wellesley is also working to support those members of our community who are affected by new immigration policies as well as those who are feeling fearful and threatened in the current environment. I want to acknowledge Ines Maturana Sendoya, associate dean of students for inclusion and engagement, and the members of the College’s Working Group on the Effects of Immigration Policy (Immigration Working Group) as they continue their important work this year. I encourage you to visit the websites of the Slater International Center and the Immigration Working Group to find out how to access resources, information, and updates related to changes in immigration policy and procedures.
Wellesley is an institution founded on social justice and equal opportunity. Guided by our values, we will continue to use our voice to advocate for positive change on immigration and other issues important to our community.
