Catholic colleges raise concern about ‘Dreamer’ detentions
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The presidents of La Roche College and five other Catholic colleges in Pennsylvania have joined more than 60 colleagues around the country in calling for greater clarification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on how it is handling the potential deportation of socalled “Dreamers.”
The colleges are raising concern about young people, some of them enrolled in their schools, who meet criteria for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program implemented under then-President Barack Obama in 2012.
Such students were brought as children to the United States by their families but lack legal immigration status. They must meet various criteria and not be considered a risk to public safety or national security. The policy allows them to avoid deportation for a limited but renewable period of time, and to work legally.
But the letter raises concern that some DACA-eligible people have been detained by immigration authorities, one has been deported and others are fearful. The college presidents are requesting a meeting with federal immigration officials to clarify policies.
“As Catholics, our shared faith calls us to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said the letter, whose signers include Sister Candace Introcaso, president of La Roche College in McCandless.
“Over the years, we — Letter signed by Sister Candace Introcaso, president of La Roche College have opened the doors of our colleges and universities to ‘Dreamers’ and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform so that they and their families can live safe, full lives in our country. In these uncertain times, we will continue to do everything we can to protect our students, and we urge you to join us in this pursuit.”
Other signers include presidents in five Philadelphia-area Catholic colleges and those in numerous other states. No other Catholic colleges in the Pittsburgh region are represented on the document.
A similar statement sent by Catholic college presidents late last year voiced similar support for Dreamer students.