From Asbury’s founding, we have had a deep commitment to international students. My question would be, why stop being committed now? If we look historically, Asbury has enrolled more international students than U.S. ethnic minorities. This, to me, shows how dedicated we are to having a campus that welcomes all nationalities.
It is crucial for Asbury, as a community, to take a stand on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We need a position that also aligns with our Christian beliefs and foundation. Since we have DACA recipients on our campus, we need to provide support in the best possible way, no matter the outcome.
As Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors. We have the responsibility to care and to treat others well. We don’t have the right to pick who we care for, and that goes for both sides of the political aisle. If we, as a campus, yearn for diversity and for ethnic minority students to attend Asbury, we have to provide support and resources to these students at an institutional level.
With the looming Supreme Court decision, the DACA program faces an uncertain future and recipients are at risk of losing federal funding. Which means that the ability to continue their college education is at risk, which could alter their lives drastically. The possibility of losing their rights and privileges to drive is also a potential outcome, depending on the Supreme Court’s decision.
According to the National Immigration Law Center, there are three possible outcomes. The first outcome is that the court could decide that there is no power among the court to rule if this is legal or not. If this is the case, DACA could end under the Trump administration but also be reinstated under a different administration in the future.
The second potential is that the court could rule in favor of DACA recipients and declare the termination unlawful. However, the third option is that the court could review the decision and declare it lawful.
As we, as a campus and administration, wrestle with this issue, it is important to remember our callings and to practice those in any way possible that glorifies the kingdom. This is not an issue that we can stay silent on. The lives of others, as well as their dreams and goals, are on the line. Take this as a call to stand in solidarity with others who are facing an uncertain future.
