The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, was one of more than 70 leaders in Catholic higher education to sign a statement of solidarity with undocumented students, according to an email Wednesday to the Loyola community.

In the statement, released by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Catholic leaders noted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, issued in 2012 under the Obama administration, and hoped undocumented students who qualify for the policy will continue to study at their universities. The policy protects from deportation certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before their 16th birthday and enables them to obtain a work visa.

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has used the deferred action policy as an example of the overreach of executive action on immigration which Trump has pledged to rescind.

“Many of us count among our students young men and women who are undocumented, their families having fled violence and instability,” said Wednesday’s statement from Catholic school leaders. “These students have met the criteria of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, issued in 2012. We, the undersigned presidents of Catholic colleges and universities, express hope that the students in our communities who have qualified for DACA are able to continue their studies without interruption and that many more students in their situation will be welcome to contribute their talents to our campuses.”