The university has heard increased reports in recent days of people from a variety of backgrounds and across the political spectrum feeling targeted or silenced on our campus. Intolerance of others based on their background, identity or views is antithetical to our values.

As the president and provost wrote last week, this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to free expression, diversity and inclusion. The important issues facing our country will benefit from thoughtful discourse of the kind our university community can model.

As we engage in free expression, we must be mindful to do so in a way that does not intimidate or harass other members of our community, or that otherwise inhibits their own exercise of their right to speak.

Questions have also been raised by many people in our community about the future of undocumented students on our campus. To be clear, Stanford will continue to provide services and support to our students without regard to their immigration status. The university supports the ability of undocumented students to continue their studies at Stanford and earn a degree.

Stanford has long supported the DREAM Act to enable undocumented students to attend our institution and apply for citizenship. Stanford also supports DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which has allowed undocumented individuals who entered the United States as children to remain in the country without fear of deportation.

The university does not act as an immigration enforcement agency. It does not collect or share information about whether students are undocumented (nor does it disclose the ethnicity or religion of individual students). And it would not provide information to law enforcement authorities about the immigration status of individuals except in specific instances in which it is legally required. On the other hand, under the law the university also cannot interfere with federal immigration agents in the lawful exercise of their duties.

The university does not know and cannot speculate about what federal immigration laws or policies may be adopted in the future, or what the impact at Stanford might be. As a result, the university is not able to comment on or react to potential policies that are not yet formed, nor likely to be put in place for some time. It will, however, monitor any developments and, in that context, advocate for policies consistent with its commitment to members of our community who are undocumented.

Our support for all members of our community, including undocumented students, remains firm, and Stanford will continue to provide a safe and welcoming home for all.