Presidents’ Alliance Commends the Biden Administration’s Executive Actions and Introduction of New Citizenship Bill

PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE COMMENDS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITIZENSHIP BILL
Executive actions and new bill include protecting DACA, ending travel bans, establishing roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, and more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2021
Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—Today, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, composed of over 500 college and university presidents, released the following statement from Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director:

“The new administration represents a new day for immigrant and international communities, especially Dreamers, international students, refugees, and other immigrant students. For the last four years, immigrant and international communities in the United States–from farmworkers to international students–have faced one of the harshest immigration climates in a generation. Higher education institutions and leaders have been on the front lines seeking to shield students from animus and unjust policies. The new administration represents an opportunity to turn the page and begin– in the words of President Biden–to collectively heal, restore, build, and gain.  

We commend the call of President Biden to have us all collaborate together and we commit to working with the new administration. We applaud the Executive Actions on rescinding the travel bans, protecting and fortifying DACA, and committing to diversity and equity. We call upon Congress to engage with the administration on its newly introduced bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which would establish a robust roadmap to citizenship for the nation’s undocumented population, including Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders, clear various visa backlogs, end per-country caps, expand access to green cards for international student graduates, and extend work permits and pathways for dependents of certain visa holders.”

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The non-partisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation. We work to advance just immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus level that are consistent with our heritage as a ‘nation of immigrants’ and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 500 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.