In Support of Undocumented Members of Our Campus Community

To the Anteater community:

This morning, President Trump’s administration announced its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, impacting the lives of an estimated 800,000 “Dreamers” across the United States. The UCI community includes hundreds of Dreamers who significantly contribute to our campus and to Orange County’s vibrant cultural fabric.

I am profoundly disappointed in this administration’s action and want to reassure the entire UCI community that we will continue to stand by all of our students, regardless of background, to help them attain their higher education goals. I also reaffirm University of California President Janet Napolitano’s statement and call to action for Congress to pass a permanent solution for Dreamers.

UCI is home to a diverse group of individuals who share the common belief that education has the power to improve and transform lives and who are committed to making the world a better place. All members of the Anteater family – including faculty, staff and students – have a right to engage in their activities at UCI without fear or intimidation, and we will do all that we can to protect and uphold this conviction. We also will continue to follow the University of California Statement of Principles in Support of Undocumented Members of the UC Community. President Napolitano’s advisory committee on undocumented students is currently working to determine how to best support and protect UC students who rely on DACA. In the meantime, UC will continue to allow California residents who are Dreamers to pay in-state tuition; maintain the DREAM loan program for financial aid; offer legal services to our undocumented students; support campus-based student service centers; and direct campus police not to contact, detain, question or arrest individuals based on suspected undocumented status.

As we navigate through this uncertain time, UCI will strive to maintain an environment in which all are included and given a chance to succeed. We remain steadfast in our commitment to support our students in any way possible.

If you have questions or concerns for yourself or a loved one affected by DACA, please contact the UCI Dreamers office, which provides financial aid guidance, legal services, academic consultations and other vital resources.

Chancellor Howard Gillman