Dartmouth’s mission is to engage talented individuals from around the world in free and open exchanges of ideas and perspectives and the creation of new knowledge. That can only be accomplished when the world’s most talented come to our campus to pursue their education and research. While immigration and security are important national issues requiring responsible governmental oversight, checkpoint activity in a rural area far from an international border is unnecessary and sends a message at odds with the open and welcoming values of an institution like Dartmouth.

As a member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration we are dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses, and communities. Beyond that, Dartmouth officials, including the president, have been in direct and frequent communication with members of Congress to argue in favor of immigration policies that encourage the flow of the most talented international scholars to U.S. institutions of higher education. And we have been fierce and consistent advocates for DACA or new legislation that would ensure that those who were brought to this country as children and had obtained legal status under DACA can continue to pursue their studies freely and without fear.

We continue to be in regular contact with the Vermont and New Hampshire affiliates of the ACLU, which seek to ensure the rights of individuals who are subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies as they travel in the Upper Valley, to ensure we are able to share the most timely and accurate information with our community about invoking their rights as necessary.

While we continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies as required by law, we remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status.