In a letter on September 2, 2017, President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Daniel Diermeier urged President Trump to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In their letter, Zimmer and Diermeier point out that the program provides approximately 800,000 students in the United States with opportunities to study and contribute that they otherwise would not have.
"Our university community and our nation will be diminished if they [i.e., students who qualify for DACA] are unable to continue contributing their talents here," they stated.
As of September 5, 2017, President Trump had ordered an end to DACA.
Read President ZImmer and Provost Diermeier's full letter to President Trump and their letter to Senator Dick Durbin and other members of Congress sent on September 5.
Update September 6: The following resources exist for undocumented community members:
- Information sessions, Know Your Rights workshops for the campus community, and legal screenings with attorneys from Chicago law firms.
- A website dedicated to undocumented students that includes an extensive FAQ section.
- Emergency financial assistance for undocumented students (contact Ireri Rivas for information).
- Free individual and group therapy services tailored to the needs of undocumented students (contact SSS or CCSS for information on free group therapy sessions offered during Autumn 2017 quarter).
- Staffing the Student Support Services office, the charge of which includes serving the needs of undocumented students, with a special focus on the graduate divisions and professional schools.
The Office of International Affairs, Student Counseling Service, and Dean on Call are also available for students who need assistance.