“We
are encouraged that the Trump administration is seeking to address the
nation’s merit-based immigration system, and support the goal of
allowing more of the talented international students, scholars, and
other highly skilled individuals coming to our shores to stay,
contribute to the U.S. economy, and ultimately become citizens. However,
we are concerned that while the plan apparently maintains the current
overall number of legal immigrants able to enter the United States, it
may reduce the availability of family and humanitarian visas. We look
forward to learning more details as this initiative is fleshed out in
the coming weeks.
We are particularly disappointed that the
administration’s plan does not include protections for Dreamers, a top
priority for ACE and all of American higher education, which has
widespread and bipartisan support in our nation and on Capitol Hill. For
far too long, hundreds of thousands of high-achieving young people,
many of whom are attending or have graduated from our colleges and
universities, have lived under a cloud of fear and uncertainty. Any
immigration plan that moves in the direction of merit-based immigration
should not overlook the tens of thousands of Dreamers who are exemplary,
productive, and hard-working individuals. We continue to urge Congress
to approve legislation that permits Dreamers to gain permanent lawful
residence and a pathway to citizenship in the only country they have
ever called home.
We stand ready to work with the
administration and Congress on an immigration initiative that addresses
these important issues in a comprehensive fashion.”