Making the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Permanent
The undersigned leadership of the faculty, administration, staff, and student body of the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, strongly support the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) established by President Obama. We urge Congress not merely to extend the program but to pass legislation that would establish DACA as a permanent feature of a more humane and comprehensive immigration policy. This legislation would provide stability and security to the hundreds of thousands of individuals and families who have benefited from DACA. DACA-affirming legislation, combined with comprehensive immigration reform, would also enable immigrants to continue to build productive lives and make important contributions to their communities and the U.S. economy. We believe this would be a responsible policy decision that is consistent with the values of our profession and those of the nation as a whole.
For our part, we commit ourselves to supporting the individuals and families in our School, University, and surrounding community and to working together to create a more just society.
Please know helpful resources are available online at the School’s SSW Responds web site (https://www.sswresponds.info/resources), including links to counseling, legal services, and know your rights information.
Signed
Richard Barth, Dean and Professor
Jodi Frey, Faculty Executive Committee Chair
Tanya Sharpe and Adam Schneider, Diversity and Anti-Oppression Committee
Amanda Menke and Maureen Walker, Student Government Association President and Vice President