University of California President Janet Napolitano explains why she is suing the Trump administration over its decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in this opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times.
"I recognize that it is unusual for a former Cabinet official to sue the agency she once led, Napolitano writes. "It may be even more unusual to challenge as unconstitutional, unjust and unlawful the elimination of a program originally established by the plaintiff — me — in this litigation.
"My anger at DACA’s rescission doesn’t stem from pride in the work done to create this program, although I am very proud of the program," she continues. "Instead it is motivated by the harm that eliminating DACA will cause to the so-called Dreamers at the University of California, the 10-campus system I now lead, and to the nearly 800,000 Dreamers across our country."
Napolitano adds that, as president, she has seen the "exceptional contributions Dreamers are making to the nation," and contends "The Trump administration’s action harms DACA recipients from a legal perspective and harms our country from a moral perspective."
