Why would we want to exclude Dreamers from our nation?
Iwas just a child when my parents emigrated with me from Argentina six decades ago. Yet even as an inquisitive youngster, it never crossed my mind to ask if we had proper documentation to enter the United States. My parents, like so many before them, were filled with the hope of a better life in America for themselves and their children, and they were willing to sacrifice much and overcome even more to secure those opportunities.
We settled in California, and in due course I took advantage of my state’s extraordinary commitment to education by enrolling at Diablo Valley Community College before transferring to Fresno State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree. Later, I attended California State University East Bay, where I received my master’s, and ultimately earned a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.
When I consider the investment California made in my education — a number that undoubtedly reaches into the hundreds of thousands of dollars — I am always humbled and grateful. This willingness by my fellow Californians to believe in the profound possibility of potential continues to inspire and motivate me today. As chancellor of the California State University, I am often reminded of the power of that potential when I hear about the remarkable contributions CSU students and alumni are making in the world.
How shortsighted it would be to deprive our nation of the extraordinary possibilities inherent in these dedicated women and men! Yet that is exactly what will happen if Congress neglects to address the misguided decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. More than 8,000 members of the CSU family — along with some 800,000 men and women around the United States — will be prevented from giving back to the nation they consider home.
Within the CSU, we count DACA recipients among our top student leaders and most dedicated employees. I have met with many of them. I’ve heard their stories, celebrated their achievements and marveled at their courage and determination. They are thoughtful innovators, inquisitive scholars, adept researchers and dazzling creators. They bring a vitality and perspective to every CSU campus that enriches our academic communities and benefits our neighborhoods. In every way, they illuminate the best aspects of the American dream — hard-working, passionate, engaged and collaborative members of our society.
Why, then, would we wish to exclude these individuals from contributing to the strength and success of our country? We cannot allow a flawed decision that hurts individuals and damages our nation to become the new normal.
Immediately following the DACA announcement, I met with legislators on both sides of the aisle to encourage them to initiate a swift and permanent resolution. At the time, I found them willing to engage in respectful but vigorous discussions that could lead to equitable solutions. Yet I worry now that other issues have crowded the legislative agenda and supplanted the dialogues about DACA that so desperately need to occur. Such matters should not prevent Congress from immediately enacting legislation that would eliminate uncertainty and preserve the proven benefits of Dreamer-related programs.
As Americans, we cannot — indeed we must not — allow empty rhetoric or political posturing to silence our input or marginalize our insight. We must step forward with courage and confidence to speak for talented students who are not in a position to speak for themselves, for wonderful employees who risk losing their opportunity to work, for brilliant colleagues who bring diverse and illuminating perspectives, and for vital communities that wonder about their place and status in today’s America.
When my parents left everything behind to emigrate to the United States, they opened possibilities that changed my life for the better. I owe it to them and to so many others to ensure the same opportunities are made available to those who are themselves extraordinary representatives of the California spirit and the American dream. I urge Americans — native-born or naturalized — to join me in vigorous advocacy with their congressional delegations. Let them know how important it is to all of us, and to the future of our nation, to pass legislation that creates the just and equitable solution we so sorely need. If ever there was a time for our voices to be heard, it is now.