Dean Allard Statement on the Trump Administration Decision to Rescind DACA

The following message was sent to the Brooklyn Law School community by Dean Nick Allard on Sept. 6, 2017.

Dear Members of the Brooklyn Law School Community,

The Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy creates uncertainty, fear and disruption among the 800,000 DACA participants and their families, neighbors, educators and employers. The Dreamers are law-abiding and hard-working individuals who are our students, classmates, co-workers, defenders of our nation in branches of the military, and first-responders, rescuers and rebuilders in the aftermath of disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and now Irma.

The average age of Dreamers affected by DACA is 25. Many are enrolled in schools across the country, so educators are now on the front lines defending the rights and futures of the Dreamers. Lawyers and law schools in particular have a responsibility to anticipate and address the legal issues raised by the Trump administration announcement about ending DACA while also dispelling incorrect information about the program being spread on social media and by the Administration itself. We urge lawmakers to find a solution to allow the Dreamers to stay in the only country most have ever known.

Brooklyn Law School supports efforts to quickly end this unnecessary, ill considered, and hurtful action against our Dreamers. We do so in the spirit of our enduring legacy as a gateway of opportunity for generations of people from all backgrounds with dreams of a better future. From our earliest days, the doors of this law school have been open wide to all—including immigrants and the children of immigrants, who have made lasting contributions to the law and society. Today, our diversity is our strength, and we are committed to advancing access to legal education for talented and promising students regardless of their circumstances.

For 116-years, our law school has stood as a beacon of hope and a force for using the power of the law to make a positive difference. Given our traditions of openness, diversity, equality and service, we will continue to honor and renew this commitment, as we celebrate and protect our diverse and global community.

For more information on the recent action on DACA and background on the program, please visit:
Frequently Asked Questions: Rescission Of Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (Department of Homeland Security, Sept. 5, 2017)
Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
DACA at Four: Participation in the Deferred Action Program and Impacts on Recipients
ImmigrationProf Blog (for links to the latest news and information)

Sincerely,
Nick