APLU Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan DREAM Act

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson released the following statement applauding the DREAM Act of 2017, which U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced today.

“We thank Senators Graham and Durbin for their leadership in introducing the DREAM Act of 2017. This bipartisan bill would extend fairness to young undocumented individuals, many of whom are students on U.S. college campuses, by offering them an opportunity to earn lawful permanent residence and access to a path to citizenship.

“While the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continues to provide a temporary reprieve to students, the program’s long-term future remains uncertain. This has left many undocumented students – even those in the DACA program — in a precarious and uncertain position through no fault of their own. The DREAM Act would provide these young people, many of whom have only ever known the United States as home, the certainty and long-term protection under U.S. law they deserve.

“The DREAM Act would allow these young people to continue their studies and go on to contribute to our economy as members of the workforce without the constant fear of revocation of work authorization and deportation. To advance our nation’s values and interests and in fairness to undocumented students who were brought to the United States at an early age, the DREAM Act is the right policy.”