The following statement can be attributed to California State University Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester:
“The decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful is both deeply disappointing and detrimental to the future vitality of our communities, our state and, indeed, our nation.
Across the 23 universities that comprise the California State University (CSU) system, some of our brightest students and most dedicated employees are Dreamers. They, like their peers, seek a better life for themselves and their families, as they contribute to the strength of the CSU and their own communities through service and leadership.
This decision places a disheartening hurdle in their path to achieving their academic and professional goals, but one that we can collectively work to overcome. The decision will continue to protect the roughly 600,000 DACA participants already in the program but continues to bar any new applications. The CSU remains undeterred in supporting Dreamers on all of our 23 university campuses and remains steadfast in our commitment to working with our state and federal leaders on a permanent bipartisan solution that will protect and support Dreamers, including the provision of a clear pathway to citizenship."
On October 5, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the State of Texas, et al., v. United States (2021) ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program is unlawful. The university acknowledges this decision with regret, and will continue to provide resources to aid students and employees during this period of uncertainty.
All CSU campuses have staff dedicated to assisting undocumented and mixed-status students, as well as assistance programs for employees. Additionally, Dreamers can make use of basic needs initiatives and mental health services on campuses, participate in planned webinars, receive legal updates prepared by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and access free immigration legal services from agencies throughout the state (noted below). Dreamers are encouraged to seek guidance from providers located in the geographic region of their campus.
Leaders from the CSU's Chancellor's Office and all 23 universities continue to advocate for a permanent legislative solution to support our Dreamers.
About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system of four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 477,000 students and 56,000 faculty and staff. Nearly 40 percent of the CSU's undergraduate students transfer from California Community Colleges. The CSU was created in 1960 with a mission of providing high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards more than 132,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter.