University of Colorado senior Adrian Mora-Alzacar chants while holding a sign as he and other march through the campus during a #SanctuaryCampus protest on Nov. 16, 2016 on the CU campus in Boulder.
BOULDER — As from deportation , the University of Colorado is calling for all hands on deck to defend its immigrant students.
President Donald Trump ran on a promise to undo the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides legal presence for young, unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
“We’ve heard an announcement on whether the program is ending is imminent,” said CU spokesman Ken McConnellogue. “We’ve been engaging with our DACA students for many months.”
On Thursday morning, President Bruce Benson and all of the CU campus chancellors systemwide met to discuss what this decision could mean for the university and its students.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Laura Peniche reads a book with her daughter Athena Borso, 3, at the Koelbel Library in Centennial, Colorado. Laura Peniche was brought to the U.S. as a child and signed up for the DACA program. Her 3 children are all American citizens.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Laura Peniche, a mother of 3 children that are all American citizens, was brought to the US as a child and signed up for the DACA program.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
10 year old Kathlina Borso at the computer stations in the Koelbel Library in Centennial with her mother Laura Peniche and siblings after school in Centennial, Colorado.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Athena Borso 3, resting during an after school trip to the Koelbel Library in Centennial with her mother Laura Peniche.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Athena Borso 3, resting as her mother Laura Peniche helps her older brother Leonardo Borso 5, during an after school trip to the Koelbel Library in Centennial, Colorado.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Kathlina Borso 10, Leonardo Borso 5 and Athena Borso 3 play on the swings with their mother Laura Peniche during a family after school trip to the Koelbel Library in Centennial, Colorado.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Kathlina Borso 10, Leonardo Borso 5 and Athena Borso 3 play on the swings with their mother Laura Peniche during a family after school trip to the Koelbel Library in Centennial, Colorado.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Laura Peniche playing with her children Leonardo Borso 5, Kathlina Borso 10 and Athena Borso 3 during an after school trip to the Koelbel Library in Centennial most afternoons.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
3 year old Athena Borso runs for the swings after a visit to the Koelbel Library in Centennial with her mother Laura Peniche and siblings after school in Centennial, Colorado.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
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Laura Peniche reads a book with her daughter Athena Borso, 3, at the Koelbel Library in Centennial, Colorado. Laura Peniche was brought to the U.S. as a child and signed up for the DACA program. Her 3 children are all American citizens.
On Thursday night, Violeta Chapin, clinical law professor at CU’s law school, was scheduled to attend a dinner for the approximately 70 undocumented students she said are enrolled on the Boulder campus. Chapin teaches a criminal and immigration defense clinic at the law school and since Trump’s election and incoming uncertainty of DACA’s fate, her class switched its focus to working directly with Boulder students.
“What we did is we hoped for the best and prepared for the worst,” Chapin said.
