Letter From President John DeGioia

On January 19, 2017, President DeGioia wrote to alumni members of the House of Representatives, urging support for the BRIDGE Act. The general text of his letter is below.

The Honorable XXXX
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20510

Dear Representative XXX:

I hope this finds you doing well.  On January 12, Congressman Mike Coffman and a group of bipartisan cosponsors introduced H.R. 496, legislation that would extend legal protections for previously undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children and who have been granted benefits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Lindsey Graham with a group of cosponsors including two of our Georgetown alumni in the Senate, Senators Richard Durbin and Lisa Murkowski.  I am writing to encourage you to consider lending your name as a cosponsor of H.R. 496.

I have had the pleasure of developing relationships with students on our campus who have registered with the Department of Homeland Security under the DACA program—they are each extraordinary individuals who exemplify a remarkable dedication to their academic work and extracurricular activities and they enrich our University in countless ways.  Many of them are also engaged in community service that extends outside of Georgetown.

All of these students are deeply concerned about what might happen to them if DACA is revoked.  I cannot begin to tell you how much your support for this legislation would mean to these students and to our entire University community.  If there is any information I can provide you or your staff, please do not hesitate to be in touch.  

I very much appreciate your consideration of this request.  You have my deepest gratitude and very best wishes.

Sincerely,

John J. DeGioia