Dear members of the NNMC Community,

Northern New Mexico College has a strong and proud tradition of promoting access to quality affordable higher education for all people, including our undocumented students and their families. Without question, recent announcements from the federal government regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections have caused uncertainty and fear.

As Northern’s president, I want to assure you all that we take our commitment to universal opportunity for higher education seriously. United with my colleagues in the Council for University Presidents, we are in close conversation with our congressional delegation regarding legislative responses and have drafted a letter in solidarity to support ALL of New Mexico’s students.

In trying times, where stress and anxiety can seem unbearable, we can persevere and overcome adversity only when we come together as a community to speak for those whose voices are muted, and to rally support for those most in need. We will be hosting a campus wide dialogue soon, and have invited Somos un Pueblo Unido, an immigrants’ rights non-profit organization, to speak to our students about our way forward to weather this storm.  We will pass along details of that gathering once we solidify a date and time.

Northern New Mexico College is dedicated to remaining a welcoming and inclusive college for all students and employees, regardless of their immigration status. Immigrants are vital and important members of our community who bring a myriad of gifts and strengths to our valley. To these brave community members, let me say that Northern New Mexico College stands with you. You are welcome here, now and always. You are our family. You are our community. You are Eagles.

Have a wonderful week, everyone – thanks.

Very Respectfully

Richard J. Bailey, Jr., PhD
President

Tagged: DACA, Immigrants, students