Universities ask US Supreme Court to preserve DACA program

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Elite universities are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve a federal program that shields young immigrants from deportation.

Brown University, Harvard University and Yale University are among a group of 19 schools that filed a brief this week.

In November, the justices will hear arguments over the Trump administration’s plan to end the Obama-era program that has protected roughly 700,000 young immigrants from deportation and provided them with permits to work in the United States legally.

Lower courts have so far blocked the administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The brief argues ending it would impede the schools’ ability to advance their missions, harm current students and alumni and deprive the nation of DACA students’ talents.

President Donald Trump wants to overhaul the immigration system.