This week, President McRobbie and fellow Big Ten leaders have urged members of Congress to enact policy in support of students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Read their letter to congressional leadership. 

The Honorable Paul Ryan 
1233 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
233 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Charles Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

RE: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:

On behalf of the Big Ten universities, we urge you to take action on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy and pass a long-term legislative solution as soon as possible to protect Dreamers, outstanding young people brought to our country as children.

The stories we hear on our campuses are troubling—high achieving young adults with uncertain futures. They are nurses, engineers, and pharmacy students. They are student athletes, leaders in music programs, and active across campus.

These young people are Americans in every way but immigration status. It remains in our country’s best interest to enable them to use their knowledge, skills and energy to continue to make the strongest possible contribution to our communities.

Please let us know what we can do to support you in protecting Dreamers and finding a permanent legislative solution to protect these bright, young Americans.

Sincerely,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chancellor Robert J. Jones

Indiana University
President Michael A. McRobbie

University of Iowa
President J. Bruce Harreld

University of Maryland
President Wallace D. Loh

University of Michigan
President Mark Schlissel, MD, Ph.D.

Michigan State University
President Lou Anna K. Simon, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota
President Eric W. Kaler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chancellor Ronnie D. Green, Ph.D.

Northwestern University
President Morton Schapiro

Ohio State University
President Michael V. Drake, MD

Penn State University
President Eric J. Barron

Purdue University
Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
President Robert L. Barchi

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chancellor Rebecca Blank