Important DACA Message and Board Resolution

Sep 6, 2017

Dear College Community,

Yesterday’s announcement that the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be ended is deeply troubling and a step backward for our nation. This phasing out of DACA will go forward over the next six months unless federal legislation intervenes.

Bellevue College continues to stand with and advocate for our Dreamers. In fact, this afternoon the BC Board of Trustees reaffirmed our strong commitment by passing Resolution 314 [PDF], stating that the college “will urgently and forcefully advocate to all of our elected federal officials that Congress act to protect students and other childhood arrivals from deportation and provide these individuals with long-term opportunities to live, study, and work in the United States.”

This resolution aligns with a joint statement [PDF] released yesterday by the presidents of Washington colleges and universities, urging Congress to pass legislation that will offer these talented young people the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

We can all help by spreading the word to affected students and any Dreamers that our website has both local and national resources and information. If you talk to someone affected by DACA termination, please make them aware that Oct. 5, 2017 could be an important deadline depending on whether they need to renew their status before March 5, 2018, as cited in our resources. Also, you can remind students that BC’s Multicultural Services is available to support students.

Bellevue College affirms the values of diversity and inclusiveness and the right of all students to be free from unlawful interference with the attainment of their educational goals. We will be sending a statement to our students to remind them of their rights under federal and state law as well as our commitments to them.

In these difficult moments, we are even more proud to be the educational home to a diverse community of students — documented and undocumented alike. Our work is to build educational opportunity as we help all students achieve their dreams.