Announcement

STATEMENT: NMGC President Responds to Decision to Terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and October 5th Renewal Deadline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2017

STATEMENT: NMGC President Responds to Decision to Terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and October 5th Renewal Deadline

Following the Administration’s decision to terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections, imposing October 5th as the deadline for the government to accept renewal applications, Victoria J. Valdez, President of the National Multicultural Greek Council, issued the following statement:

As an organization with a stated mission to unite and empower ourselves and our communities, we find the Administration’s decision to terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections, and tomorrow’s arbitrary deadline for Dreamers to renew their permits, absolutely appalling. We can imagine that there are NMGC members and their family who are full of uncertainty and anxiety about their own future or the future of their loved ones given this decision, and we are deeply saddened that they have been put in this position.

Since its inception, DACA has allowed nearly 800,000 young people to empower themselves and their communities by going to school, working, and participating in the country they call home to their fullest ability. They courageously spoke out on their behalf and of their peers and achieved protections  for the past 5 years. Their initiative had a major impact in the promotion of awareness on multicultural diversity within collegiate institutions, the surrounding communities, and our country as a whole.

The National Multicultural Greek Council believes in the power that embracing diversity has in creating a better, and stronger society. Denying nearly 800,000 young men and women who call this country home the opportunity to pursue a life, education, and employment free from the fear of persecution is reprehensible, irresponsible, and destructive. We hope Congress protects DACA recipients before the six-month expiration deadline imposed by President Trump, and call upon NMGC member organizations to support efforts to protect Dreamers in any way they are able to, including educating the public, providing legal services, contributing to fundraisers, and standing in solidarity during demonstrations.

For more information or to speak to an NMGC representative, please contact Tanya Arditi Saavedra, Public Relations Coordinator, at pr@nationalmgc.org.

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The National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) is an umbrella council for a coalition of Multicultural Greek-Letter Organizations (MGLOs), established in 1998. The purpose of NMGC is to provide a forum that allows for the free exchange of ideas, programs, and services between its constituent fraternities and sororities; to promote the awareness of multicultural diversity within collegiate institutions, their surrounding communities, and the greater community-at-large, and to support and promote the works of its member organizations.