Cornell University is responding to President Trump’s decision to end DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. This Obama-era executive action protects the children of undocumented immigrants. If legislation does not replace it, the program stops in six months.
Cornell President Martha Pollack wrote a letter to the Cornell community Tuesday responding to the White House’s rescission of the DACA program. In it, she said the school will not cooperate with the enforcement of federal immigration laws. It's a move similar to the City of Ithaca, which also decided not to assist federal immigration raids.
While the school won't cooperate with enforcing federal laws, Pollack says the university will “comply with lawfully issued subpoenas and warrants.” This suggests the school will cooperate in criminal cases.
Pollack also writes that the school will keep giving financial aid to current undergraduate DACA students. Plus, the school will help graduate students financially if they lose federal work authorization. She wants the White House to support the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act, a stopgap measure that would allow DACA students a three-year window of protection.