NSHE Lauds Supreme Court DACA Decision

NSHE and its students were greeted with uplifting news Thursday morning as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping open the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The Nevada System of Higher Education has vocally and staunchly sided with DACA students and supporters in the case of Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California. NSHE joined more than 160 other higher education institutions from 32 states supporting the University of California System in its case.

The lawsuit stems from a decision by the President of United States in September 2017 to rescind regulations for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court has lifted a tremendous and overwhelming burden that our DACA students have been carrying,” said Chancellor Thom Reilly. “We remain steadfastly united in our support of our immigrant, undocumented, and international students, who are some of our best and brightest students. NSHE and the Board of Regents reaffirm our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.”

Regents Chair Jason Geddes added, “DACA students are an integral part of NSHE and our society. Nevada has a brighter future knowing these students are protected.”

Since the legal battle first began, Reilly and all eight presidents of NSHE’s public higher education institutions joined with higher education leaders across the nation as part of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. The Alliance was formed to urge legal protection for undocumented “Dreamers” brought to the United States as children.

Reilly added, NSHE and the Board of Regents will continue to work with Nevada’s federal delegation, Gov. Sisolak, and state lawmakers on a permanent solution DACA.

NSHE is a minority-majority public higher education system with 100,000-plus students, and with one institution, UNLV, ranking as the most diverse university in the nation.