University Presidents Call on Congress to Find ‘Narrowly Tailored Solution’ for Dreamers

A group representing the top executives of more than 200 colleges wrote to Congressional leaders on Thursday asking for a “narrowly tailored solution” to the possible lapsing of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The action comes as the program, which shields some undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children, may be scrapped by the Trump administration. President Trump on September 5 ordered that DACA be rescinded in six months — March 5, if Congress takes no action to enshrine the program in law.

“Changes to immigration laws that more properly belong in a comprehensive immigration reform measure deserve more thoughtful deliberation, consideration and negotiation than are feasible in the rapidly closing window of time available to address this problem,” reads the letter, in part.

The Trump administration has sent conflicting signals about what sort of immigration legislation it would support.

The letter was signed by the chancellors of the University of California at Merced, California State University, and Rutgers University at Newark, and the presidents of Utah State University, Miami Dade College, and Georgetown University, as well as the president emeritus of Pomona College. Those leaders are listed as the members of the steering committee of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a group formed in November.

University presidents have, broadly, been forceful in their condemnation of the Trump administration’s move to scrap DACA.

Andy Thomason oversees breaking-news coverage. Send him a tip at andy.thomason@chronicle.com. And follow him on Twitter @arthomason.