{"id":34729,"date":"2017-09-06T13:20:59","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T17:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=34729"},"modified":"2017-09-11T08:13:15","modified_gmt":"2017-09-11T12:13:15","slug":"emu-response-rescission-daca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2017\/emu-response-rescission-daca\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU response to the rescission of DACA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, president of Eastern Mennonite University, released the following statement to the campus community today<\/em> [Sept. 6].<\/p>\n

Dear EMU community,<\/p>\n

Like you, I am saddened and troubled by the White House decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).<\/p>\n

This program that allows children of undocumented immigrants to live, work and study in the U.S. without fear of deportation has allowed nearly 800,000 \u201cdreamers,\u201d (12,000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia) to contribute positively to our country and the communities in which they live. For many, this is the only country they know.<\/p>\n

As followers of Jesus, we are committed to walk with our DACA students. They are beloved members of the EMU family.<\/p>\n

As a community of learners, \u201cdreamers\u201d have helped us become better reflective thinkers who are culturally aware and globally engaged.\u00a0We are particularly proud of the nationally recognized work of Isabel Castillo, a social work undergraduate and master\u2019s in conflict transformation alumnus who has led significant efforts to support DACA.<\/p>\n

As peacebuilders, we are committed to work locally, globally, and nationally in the next six months to find workable solutions that bring out \u201cthe better angels of ourselves.\u201d As members of both parties on Capitol Hill have signaled: \u201cThese students have done nothing wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following resources are available on campus for our DACA students:<\/p>\n