President Zach Messitte sends letter encouraging representatives to act on DACA

Ripon College President Zach Messitte has written to Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, and Rep. Glenn Grothman, regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The text of President Messitte’s letter is as follows:

Ripon College values a learning environment that emphasizes internationalization and celebrates those in our community who come from different cultures, faiths and areas of the world. The global diversity of our students, faculty, staff and alumni is part of what makes our institution unique. We consider applicants for admission regardless of immigration or citizenship status.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has made Ripon a better place to study and live. We are honored to have “Dreamers” among our current students and the alumni body. These students are scholars and leaders, athletes and artists, musicians and researchers. We hope that many will choose to stay in Wisconsin to pursue their careers and lives that enrich the state and local economy.

I would respectfully ask that you work with your fellow legislators to make sure that the DACA program continues to benefit Wisconsin and the nation. These students, who have been raised and educated in the United States, have already enriched the Ripon community. As we remember in our school song, we are proud to support all who come to Ripon to study, learn and develop their talents “far within Wisconsin’s prairies.” I request that you make every effort to ensure that we are able to continue to make that promise to our students in the future.