Students: New Day for Immigration Policy

Dear Western Students,

I am writing to update you on recent changes in key immigration policies that may impact many of you.

Perhaps the most important of the recent actions taken by the Biden administration pertain to undocumented immigrants.  President Biden, on his first day in office, proposed an immigration bill that features a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and makes Dreamers—young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children—immediately eligible for green cards.  He also signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to take immediate actions aimed at "preserving and fortifying" Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). 

A separate executive order repealed a controversial travel ban policy that barred nationals from a group of mostly Muslim-majority and African countries from entering the United States.  The Biden administration is also acting to reverse a number of immigration and visa policies, many of which affected international students and colleagues, and fed a perception that the United States no longer welcomes people from across the globe.

I join my colleagues in colleges and universities around the country in applauding the recent actions to protect the DACA program and propose legislation making the program permanent and Dreamers eligible for citizenship, and to welcome students and scholars from many nations to the U.S.

As a member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, WWU is working together with over 500 colleges and universities in asking the new Education Secretary, once confirmed, to reverse former Secretary DeVos’ directive that undocumented students are not eligible for financial aid from federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars. In addition, 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.

These bills could face a difficult path in Congress. These efforts to fortify protections for DACA and international students are a good start, and we will continue to advocate at the state and federal level for a permanent legislative solution to these issues.  In the meantime, Western is committed to doing all it can to support our DACA and international students in their educational endeavors.

Changes to policy and law are coming quickly, and we are doing our best to update and clarify our resources and webpages to reflect the newest information. Please consult the We Welcome Undocumented Students page for information, resources, and referrals; the International Student and Scholar Services Office can also answer questions and assist international students.

Undocumented immigrant students are members of our communities deserving dignity, respect, and the opportunity to realize their full human potential.  Undocumented immigrant students and international students, faculty and staff who are able to pursue their academic and professional dreams contribute to our communities and country and help meet the challenges that lie before us, just as generations of immigrants have done before them.

Stay safe and take good care,

Melynda Huskey