Following the Supreme Court's decision on Thursday, June 18, in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, President Teresa Amott issued this statement to the campus:

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could not immediately end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides work permits and protection from deportation for upwards of 700,000 undocumented immigrants. You may recall that approximately nine months ago, Knox College, together with 165 colleges and universities, joined an amicus brief in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the case before the Supreme Court. Knox joined this “friend of the court” brief to demonstrate our unwavering support for our DACA and immigrant students. Today’s ruling is a victory for Dreamers and for the colleges and universities that supported the brief.

The decision did not rule on the merits of the program, but rather found that the administration had not complied with the procedural requirements for such a change and it would need to provide “a reasoned explanation for its action.” It is likely that providing that justification will take time, potentially extending beyond the November election, but the College stands ready to join with Dreamers and their advocates should new action be required.

For the colleges and universities across the country who have been enriched by the presence of Dreamer students, and for the communities in which they work and live after graduation, this is a welcome step toward protecting Dreamers, but work remains in the coming months. Knox remains committed to its historic goals of equality and inclusion, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that all of our students have access to the educational opportunities they deserve.